The Raja's Magic Clothes. Re-visioning kingship and divinity in England's India.

Pennsylvannia: Pennsylvania State University Press.. 1994.. Colour and black and white photographic illustrations, contents, list of illustrations, treatment of key terms in a conglomerate language, glossary of common Anglicized terms, bibliography, index, xxxiv + 304pp., a very good copy in a dustjacket. "In the 'Raja's Magic Clothes' Waghorne places before our eyes British imperialism and a small South india kingdom in the actual settings in which they perform their interplay - not only in the Indian world of English courtiers, diplomats and scholars. 'The Raja's Magic Clothes' explores the refashioning of the rituals of kingship in Pudukkottai during the crucial period from 1858 to 1947…………. Since Waghorne was permitted use of the Plaace Records for the first time, 'The Raja's Magic Clothes' includes significant new material for scholars. In addition, the book provides the first full photographic documentation of the old palace at Pudukkottai, the Dakshinamurti temple within that palace, and the interior of the state Tirugokarnam temple, giving readers the opportunity to see the palace and both temples not only for the beauty of their art and architecture but also in context of the complex ritual system.(Publisher's description). .