- ホーム
- > 洋書
- > 英文書
- > Religion / Ethics
Full Description
Minor Majesties studies the small ancient kingdom of Paluvūr, a town located on the northern bank of the Kāvēri river, about 30 kilometers north of Tanjavur. Between the ninth and the eleventh centuries C.E., Paluvūr was the capital of the dynasty of the Paluvēṭṭaraiyars, a minor dynasty of "little kings" who swore allegiance to the Cōla dynasty. Today, Paluvūr is divided in two distinct villages, Kīlappaluvūr and Mēlappaluvūr, and four temples dedicated to the god Śiva built during the reign of the little kings remain standing. In Minor Majesties, author Valérie Gillet surveys, translates, and analyzes 136 Tamil transcriptions spread across these temples, scrutinizing in depth each one's materiality, location, and epigraphy for the first time.
Through these analyses, Gillet brings forth a better understanding of the functioning of the minor dynasty of the Paluvēṭṭaraiyars whose little kings often appear in the inscriptions of the temples, as well as the interactions between the temples and their patronizing communities. The small size of Paluvūr with its hub of still-standing monuments permits an exceptionally clear overview of the possible relations between distinct temples, allowing readers to unpick complexities related to temple sponsorship, organisation, and functioning. The study of Paluvūr also reveals how these religious monuments-accruing wealth but, in exchange, enabling donors to accrue merit and power-became a place for the fabrication of political discourses and powers, specific social configurations, and religious practices.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Note on the Transliteration of Tamil Words
Abbreviations
Maps, Plans, and Figures
Introduction
CHAPTER 1: A Tentative Biography of the Paluvettaraiyars
CHAPTER 2. The Avanikantarpa / Avanigandharva Isvaragrham Mahadeva Temple Complex (AIM) of Avanikantarpapuram / Avanigandharvapuram
CHAPTER 3. The Pakaivitai Isvaragrham Mahadeva Temple (PIM) and the Tiruttorramutaiyar of Mannupperumpaluvur
CHAPTER 4. The Tiruvalanturai Mahadeva Temple of Cirupaluvur
CHAPTER 5. The Maravanisvaragrhattu Mahadeva of Cirupaluvur
CONCLUSION. The Configuration of Social and Political Powers of Paluvur Through Its Religious Centres
Appendix 1. The Epigraphical Corpus of Paluvur
Appendix 2. The Paluvettaraiyars in Inscriptions Outside Paluvur
Appendix 3. Hymn 2.34 of the Tevaram by Campantar, Dedicated to Paluvur
Appendix 4. Photographs of Paluvur
Bibliography
Index
