Flügel, Peter

English

SOAS Research Online

Reviews.ring various historical moments of his life Theu-"c. oi Mahatma Gandhi's economic and politi-onal chaos of ongoing scapegoating and vict imis-:t icabi l i ty of Gandhi 's concepts has never been tnere criminal conduct of those indulging in greed andhatma Gandhi's "practical idealism" because of the:J and their painful and increasing fear of loss.andrtion could provide a remedy for these sick brotherserves widespread appreciation in Central Europe'lsis is that Mahatma Gandhi changed orl at l-elst'epts ofhis 1908 paraphrase ofJohn Ruskin's Untofiist Prinript"s'of Political Economy (1862) and^,f iiSOSi Mahatrna Gandhi's ethical philosophy of,tin', .iiti.i.. of the mainstream views of econo-, i.u,ur. of equality and social .lustice ln.Gandhi'stv oi i tutnfuf ci t izens who reconcrle social conflrcts. i . ,  UV u"rft  or soul force, the "practical ideal ism",on..oit of svaral, sart'oduya and svadeshi Satya-'uth", is sol idly founded in Gandhi 's ConstructtveI ili ift. U.".ni ofa non-violent socialist republic ofnescapable network of mutual i ty " This dictum of,*i"g itt. tradition of Mahatma Gandhi destroys the, in lnt.tnutional relations Nevertheless' Mahatmaical utopia was an "enlightened anarchy" based oni. uutitot mentions Mahaima Gandhi's core philoso-key problem of modern economics is the erroneous'friiri "p"" a false interpretation of property. andrtre-conflicts in modem class societies, especially inrtUf. .on,.tnporary of his age, Mahatma Gandhi suf-, f  the f irst technological World War and vrolent c.rvr lcr a political solution to eradicate poverty and lnJus-antilimperialist progranxne of non-violent politics, ouar*'rn. the soul -murder of the extremely violent;m. dictatorships as well  as mil i tar ised democracres'today rgnore t ire pol i t ical phi losophy behind the eco-lhi. Tire"necessary reduction of Gandhi's holistic para-rs should be devoid of any fragmented rel ics^Kirsten4hologizing Gandhi 's economic phi losophy trom tne'-*ircii-(rii*na) to the evolution of a laborious andtuii". io inOuurialism in the daily life of hundreds ofsmen. The reader is delighted to have an almost com-ult-.o*"pt of svadeshi,brtt asks himself: What doesistence" mean for the economies of modem socletles''r"uU.ontin.ntf At least, scholars with a knowledge ofrve another of the few monographs on Candhi to tm-prove the rather weak research basis. But new dirigent research on the Trusteeship:::::lTl9 rts meaning for us roday should be th-e togical ,..ona it.p. oit"*ir.rne ranguage or svadeshi, sllaraj and sarvodaya wilr remain the propaganda lan-guage of Hindu fundamentalists.Christian BartolfKunr TrrzE, Jainism. A pictoriar Guide to the Rerigion of Non-viorence. Derhi:Y:!t:]^eTgsidass,^^l 99€. ].67 pages, maps, prctures, appendices, indexes,RS 2500.  rsBN 8 l_208_1534_3Kurt Titze, the author of this informative and beautifully produced volume onJainism, is a free-lance writer with great admiration una'sy-paitrl-ror lrre lai'doctrine ofradical non-violence, whicl inspired him to undertak" p.isonat uirit, tomost of the Jain sacred. sites^ in India over a period spanning ,noi. tr,un tr,r".decades The book is written from the perspective of a pirgrim,"i... not u. un u.u-demic. piece of research, but as an utt u.tiu. guide to be used by tourists, scholars,and devotees. By way of an imaginary j"oumey through tlre subcontinent itrntroduces the reader to the-serene beauty ofthe rel igious si ies ofthe Jains rvhrch, incontrast to the ma.;oriry of the places of worship in Hinduism, ur. oit.r, fuilt inrsorarecl mountarn or desert locations. A map at the beginning of each section offersrnitial orientation. The photographs taken on most sites by-the author himself areaccompanied by explanatory texts, which also provide uieful travel informatron,llll9"!"il personal impressions, and occasionai nores on rmportant rituals. TheJourney begrns rn the south, with a visit to the famous Jain sites of Mudbidri andstrravanabelagola in Kamataka, foilowed by the rittre known Jain sites in TamilNadu, and the well known caves of Ellora, to nu,n. but a few. rr,. ."1"riif or tn.sometrmes stunningly beautiful Jain pirgrimage sites, such as vangi rungi inMaharashtra, which is presented next, are-lessino*n, and dif f icult  to locate evenfor..the Jain specialist. From Maharashtra the imagrnary traveller heads north, toDelhi and ]Iastinapur, then turning south joining a ,icrand Tour,' of the famous Jarn:.-Tpl::,?-f :"*hem R.ajasthan and northirn cu]arat, then on to Culurut unJf ut.f.,,ano .na,y ro Blhar - the region in which Jainism and Buddhism originated.In this volume the student of Jainism will find interesting details on the under-studied Digambara Jain bhattarakas,.or monastic pontiffs, wh"o rutntt pr"ao,ninuntryadministrative and educationar functions, and form an intermediary.ut!go.y u.*.rnDigambara laity and ascetics. Indeed, most of the monuments aeicribei-lenerallytemples -.are Digambara controlled, although it is not always made cleai for theuninitiated reader to which of the two maii Jain denominations, Shvetamba.u orDigambara' the respectrve sites belong. However, by incruding several articres orextracts from books by Klaus Bruhn, Jyoti prasad Jain, Noel e.i(ing, vir^, e. s""-g1:,..r.td other leading.experts in this field, the author interipersei the _uin t.*tI,:f::_,d:l-"lled background information on selected subjects, such as the phi_r.o-sopny and-meanlng of worship in Jainism. of particular inierest is the chapter on"Jaina art of Gwalior and Deogarh" by prof. Kraus Bruhn, which was ,f..iuttywrittenfor this book, as yr thi one by prof. ttoer ring on "Jaina ouuni in tt.west". The contribution of Klaus Bruhn, looking back oniis o*" pi"*..irg'*"rtReviews 403404 Reviews Reviewsmountain sites, which were originally sanctified by tlreligious death through self-starvation. The attractitpictures allow a comprehensive and unique glimpseheritage, which was not hitherto available in this form.Kraus-Joser Norz (Hrsg.), Das Lexikon des BuddhismtPraxis. Band I, II. Freiburg/Basel/Wien: Herder,rsBN 3-451-04700-4Ein solides und zuverllissiges Nachschlagewerk iiber dbei der wachsenden Verbreitung dieser Religion auch iIgendes Desiderat. Die groBen und in absehbarer Zeit nwie der vorztigliche H6b6girin oder die unzuliinglichtk<innen dieses Bedtirfnis nicht befriedigen und wendeden Fachgelehrten. Nyanatilokas niitzliches Buddhistisich auf die Theravada-Terminologie. Das nun vorgel 'empfundene Lticke in hervorragender Weise. Umsichtifiiltig gestaltete Artikel wenden sich an den ,,interessildem Fachmann durchaus einiges zu bieten. Das gilt gadie jedem Eintrag beigegeben ist, da bekanntlich ein*nJ-Bibliographie fehlt. Fi.ir eine erste Orientierung Igute Dienste. Denn nur selten ist dem Weitblick der Vetwa das Erscheinen des 7. Bandes des H6b6girin(lein Verweis auf den wichtigen Beitrag Da16 ,,MahayiDie Breite der behandelten Bereiche ist eindrucksrkeln wie ,,Theravada", ,,Pali" oder ,,Tripitaka" steher,,Ambedkar", ,,Buddhismus im Westen" oder eine saclte im Artikel ,,Buddhologie". Der abgedeckte geograsamte Verbreitungsgebiet des Buddhismus und reichtAm Ende des 2. Bandes sind eine kleine AuswalBudhismus" in Ubersetzung, Abbildungen einiger wreine Cesamtbibliographie und schlieBlich ein ausfiihrist also ein Werk entstanden, das in die Hand eines.sierten gehort und zu dem man die Verfasser begltick'DE'rLEF KeNrowsrv, Buddhisten in Indien heute.D okument e. (Forschungsberichte "BuddhistischerUniversit i i t  Konstanz, 1999. IX,216 Seiten, DMDas Werk umlaljt einen Literaturbericht zur sozialerNeo-Buddhisten in Indien sowie Beobachtungen, Bischiedene buddhistische Vereinigungen, Bodh Gayamus in Indien und NAgpur iils Zentrum der neo-buddin Deogarh some forty years ago, illuminates the chronology and regional style ofJaina art in Gwalior and Deogarh in central India 700-1250 AD. It also points to thenecessity ofreconstructing local history from the "scattered epigraphical evidence',,and calls "for an intensified evaluation of the available material and for thecol lect ion ofnew data" (103). In his descript ion ofthe Tirthankara images at thesesites, Bruhn emphasizes that "Jinas are normally shown stark naked. Jinas weanns adhoti are only found in rhe shvetambara art of cujarat and southern Rajasrhin"(106). Bruhn describes the "miracle motifs" associated with them, that is "emblemsof royalty which surround the Jina in a singular manner" (107), which do not strictlybelong to soteriological Jainism. Though emphasizing that "Deogarh is still what itwas" (l16), he illustrates the damage caused both by art robbers and attempts ofpreservation by juxtaposing recent pictures with a photograph reproduced from theArchaeological Survey of India ( I 9l 8), which depicts the Jaina temples of Deogarhbefore their reconstruction for purposes of religious tourism (li5). Kurt Titzehimself establishes a similar contrast in his section on the restored Tirthankaraimage at Chulagir i ,  reconsecrated in l99l ( 130f.).The pictures in this book indicate that the recent efforts of the Jain communitydo not only concentrate on the restoration ofold sites but also on the construction ofentircly new buildings, which are the main indications of the contemporary Jainrenaissance in India. At present, they are being erected in large numbers ind at greatspeed, often at historic Jain locations which were later abandoned, such as theJambu-dvipa monument at Hastinapur (139), the Mahavira Mandir at pavapuri(207), the new structures in Rajgir (205), Ajmer's Nasiayan remple (143), or thenew Samavasarana temple at the foot of Satrunjay hill (232). Their architecture,general ly depict ing Jain cosmological themes, is very innovative. I t  str ikes thereader who compares the pictures of old and new temples in this book that the newcommunal self-assertiveness of the Jains manifests itself in these modern buildings,sometimes made of concrete, which boldly embody Jain imagery in their structuraldesign; in stark contrast to medieval Jain temples. which. as professor Bruhnexplains, "had a'neutral 'exterior contrary to Hindu temples, where f igures on rheouter walls leave no doubt as to the l{indu character of the building" ("this was theprice to be paid for the easily granted permission to erect Jaina temples under Hindurulers") ( l  I  l ) .The volume also contains indexes and useful appendices for the general readeron the distribution of the Jaina population in India, a bibliography, a glossary,addresses, and a list of Jain periodicals. on his journeys the author -it -unyprominent Jain monks and nuns from the whole spectrum of Jain traditions. Theshort descriptions of the encounters with these mendicants, some of whom werephotographed (which, as the author emphasizes, was not permitted by orthodoxascetics), are the most vividly narrated parts of the volume, only matched by thechapter on "charitable and social traditions in Jainism" (zl3-zz0), which celebratesthe utopian spirit behind the modem Jain religious schools, the gurukuls anddharmasthalas, women's ashrams, and Jain eye hospitals, that were inaugurated bythe sympathizers of the world Jain Mission. It is only here that we get a glimpse ofcontemporary Jain ways of life. The majority of the photographs in this pioorialguide to Jainism show Digambara Jain temples and their interior in isolatedReviewsr, i l lumrnates rhe chronology and regional style ofr in central India 700-1250 AD lt  also points to thehistory from the "scattered eprgraphical evidence"':valuation of the avai lable matertal and tor Iner his descript ion of the Tirthankara image s at theseras are normally shown stark naked' Jinas wearlng avetambara art of Gujarat and southern Rajasthan"acle motifs" associated with them, that is "emblemsna in a singular manner" (107), which do not strrctly. itrougtr Imphasizing that "Deogarh is still what itamage-caused both by art robbers and attempts ot.ni Ji.tut.t with a photograph reproduced from the( I  9i 8), which depicts the Jaina temples of DeoBarh' 'putpor.t  of rel igious tourism (115)'  Kurt Titze,ontrast in his seciion on the restored Tirthankara:d  in  l99 l  (130f  ) .drcate that the recent efforts of the Jain community^'estoration ofold sites but also on the constructlon oIare tte main indications of the contemporary Jain, they are being erected in large numbers and at grealocations which were later abandoned, such as tne;ril;p"; (139), the Mahavira Mandir at Pavapuri" i* i i  iZOSl, Almer's Nasiayan temple (143), or thettr i  foor of Satrunjay hi l l  t232l Their-architecture'rological themes, is very innovative l t  stnKes tne,., Jf old and new temples in this book that the newf the Jains manifests itself in these modem buildings'if iifr U"fafv embody Jain imagery rn th-eir strutturalmedieval Jiin temples. which, as Professor tsruhn"ioi .onttu.y to Hindu temples, where. ftgures on theto the Hindu character of the building" ("this *-u: tl'granted permission to erect Jaina temples under Hlnduindexes and useful appendices for the general reader.ina population in India, a bibliography, a glossary'periodicals. On his joumeys the- author,.Ttl tSlyuns from the whole spectrum of Jaln tradltlons l neounters with these mindicants, some of whom wereauthor emphasizes, was not permitted UY o.",ho9:*v nanated parts of the volume, only matched by theiiut nuAi,ion, in Jainism" (213-2201' which celebrates; il; Jain religious schools, the gurukuls and'i.i,-unJlut eye h6spitals, that were inaugurated byJJuin rt,ltttton. it i, oniy here that we get a glimpse of[f..-ifr" majority of thi photographs in this pictorial3utnUutu Jain temples and thelr interior in rsolatedReviews 405mountain sites, which were originally sanctified by the practice of sallekhana, orreligious death through self-starvation. The attractive, mostly black and whitepictures allow a comprehensive and unique glimpse into the iichness of the Jarnheritage, which was not hitherto available in this form.peter FliiselKrnus-Joser No11 Qrrsg ), Das Lexikon des Buddhisnurs. Grundbegrife, Traditonen,Prarr i .  Band I,  I I .  Freiburg/Basel/wien: Herder, tsss. orz*s6iten, DM 6g,-.rsBN 3-451-04700-4Ein solides und zuverliissiges Nachschlagewerk tiber den Buddhismus ist besondersbei der wachsenden verbreitung dieser Religion auch in westlichen Liindem ein drin-gendes Desiderat. Die gro8en und in absehbarer zeit nicht abzuschlie8enden werkewie der vorztigliche H6b6girin oder die unzuliingliche Encyclopaedia of Bttdtlhismkcinnen dieses Bediirfnis nicht befriedigen und wenden sic-h auBerdem zuniichst anden Fachgelehrten. Nyanatilokas nt.itzliches Buddhistisches Worterbuch beschriinktsich auf die Theravada-Terminologie. Das nun vorgelegte werk f i i l l t . ledoch die oftempfundene Liicke in hervonagender weise. UmsiJhtig ausgewiihlte, i<lar und sorg-ftiltig gestaltete Artikel wenden sich an den ,,interessielrten iaien,,, haben aber auchdem Fachmann durchaus einiges zu bieten. Das gllt ganzbesonders fiir die Literatur,die jedem Eintrag beigegeben ist, da bekanntlich Jine wirklich aktuelle Buddhis-mus-Bibliographie fehlt. Ftir eine erste orientierung leistet daher das Lexikon merstgute Dienste. Denn nur selten ist dem weitblick der verfasser hier etwas entgangen,etwa das Erscheinen des 7. Bandes des H6b6girin(1994), so daB unter Maiayanaern verweis auf den wichtigen Beitrag Darj6 ,,Mahaydna" von H. Durt fehlt.Die Breite der behandelten Bereiche ist eindrucksvol l .  Neben ,,klassischen.. Artr-keln wie ,,Theravada", ,,Pali" oder ,,Tripitaka" stehen auch informative Beitrdge zu,,Ambedkar", ,,Buddhismus im westen" oder eine sachkundige Forschungsgeschich-te im Artikel ,,Buddhologie". Der.abgedeckte geographischi Raum umfi8"t das ge-samte verbreitungsgebiet des Buddhismus und reicht von Indien bis nach ostasien.Am Ende des 2. Bandes sind eine kleine Auswahr von ,,Grundtexten des pari-Budhismus" in ubersetzung, fb!1rdy1een einiger wichtiger ,,Handgesten,, lmuora;,eine.Gesamtbibliographie und schlieBlich ein ausfiihrlich-es Registeibelgegeben. Esist also ein werk entstanden, das in die Hand eines jeden am"Buddhisriui tnt...r-sierten gehcirt und zu dem man die Verfasser beglrickwrinschen darf.Oskar von HintiberDETLEF KaNrowsxv, Buddhisten in Indien heute. Beschreibungen, Bilder undD.okumente._(Forschungsberichte "Buddhistischer Moderni.-ur:1 r6;. ronrtunr,Universit i i r  Konstanz, I 999. IX, 2l 6 Seiten, DM 25,_.ISBN 3_9i0959_ I t_5Das werk umfaBt einen Literaturbericht zur sozialen Lage und rituellen praxis derNeo-Buddhisten in Indien sowie Beobachtungen, Bilder und Dokumente iiber ver_schiedene buddhistische Vereinigungen, Bodh Gaya als zentralen ort des Buddhis-mus in Indien und Nagpur iils Zentrum der neo-buddhistischen Bewegung.

Review of Jainism. A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence. By Kurt Titze. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, 1998

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Review of Jainism. A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence. By Kurt Titze. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, 1998

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