Pastoral deities in western India /

It is well known that Hinduism has constantly assimilated customs, traditions, and images from various groups living on the fringes of Indian civilization. Sontheimer's scholarly study of religion among pastoral communities of the Deccan represents a unique contribution to the study of this ongoing cultural metabolism. His focus on temples, cults, sacred images, and patronage places this volume in an emerging genre of Indology that stresses the changing evolution of Hinduism within its various environmental, symbolic, and social milieus. A similar approach has been taken successfully by German scholars studying the regional cult of Jagannath in eastern India (Orissa). Sontheimer's contribution to the literature on religion in India is undoubtedly well established by this volume. Despite its many positive attributes there are several weaknesses, however. Those who have not been initiated into the regional terminology of Maharashtra will find this book to be complex and confusing. Also, it lacks a well-developed theoretical section and concluding chapter. Despite these problems, the volume is recommended for graduate students and South Asian specialists. -J. J. Preston, SUNY College at Oneonta