ABSENT LORD: ASCETICS AND KINGS IN A JAIN RITUAL CULTURE. by Babb, Lawrence A - 1996

Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996. 244 pp, 8vo (9" H). "What does it mean to worship beings that one believes are completely indifferent to, and entirely beyond the reach of, any form of worship whatsoever? What are the implications of such a relationship with sacred beings for the religious life of a community? Using these questions as his point of departure, Babb explores the ritual culture of image-worshiping Svetambar Jains. Jainism is, aside from Buddhism, the only surviving example of India's ancient non-Vedic religious traditions. It is known and celebrated for its systematic practice of non-violence and for the rigor of the asceticism it promotes. 'Absent Lords' sheds light on a little-known religious tradition and demonstrates that divine 'absence' can be as rich as divine 'presence' in its possibilities for informing a religious response to the cosmos." Interior - clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - light waviness to book at top and bottom, tiny dint on front cover.. Soft Cover. Very Good+.