The book deals with the metaphysical concept of materiality, termed as mayä in Indian systems, and as mayai in Saiva Siddhanta text called Tirumandiram, authored by Tirumular. Reading of 'mayai in Tirumandiram,' is perceived from an ecological perspective and the author of the book engages in a hermeneutical discourse of role of traditional concepts in contemporary thinking and living.
Affirmation of the reality of the material and physical world is a dire need of our times. A renewal and a re-visioning in line with a traditional notion of material reality are aimed at in this book, looking for an effective change in one's conception about nature. By highlighting particular ideology of Tirumandiram as a corrective notion towards enhancing human-nature relationship, the author throws open the profound ecological thoughts concerning inter-connectedness between humans and nature.
This scholarly work helps in understanding the theology of the body as emerging from Tirumülar's understanding of physical body and the material world, in relation to the Christian concept of body and Christian medical ethics. Also, juxtaposing Saiva Siddhanta and Christian understanding of the materiality sets forth both conceptual and practical implications for contemporary approach to ecological crisis.
Dr. John Peter Vallabadoss is a Franciscan Capuchin belonging to Amala Annai Province, North Tamil Nadu, with 15 years of professional teaching experience in philosophy. He is the professor of Indian philosophy and Dean of Studies at St. Joseph's Capuchin Philosophical College, Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu; and a visiting faculty at Jnanadeepa Vidyapeeth (JDV), Pune. He is presently Secretary of Association of Christian Philosophers of India. He has been a Consultant in Philosophy at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), for a couple of years developing MA philosophy programme. He has served as Registrar of Vijnananilayam Institute of Philosophy and Religion, Eluru, A.P. He was a visiting faculty to Department of Philosophy, Loyola College, Chennai, and Department of Philosophy, Arulanandar College, Madurai. He continues to teach in many Philosophy institutes across India. He has convened three National Seminars. To his credit, he has published a book (Methodology for Scientific Papers), edited 2 books (Openness to the Other, History and Historizing) and twenty research articles till date.
Wonderful is the natural world we live in. The amazing nature in the physical body and in the material world captivates one's attention. It is rightly said that 'wonder' and 'curiosity' are the beginning of philosophizing. The natural world inspired me to philosophize. The ecological crisis that threatens to destroy the beautiful nature prompted me to re-think of a better human-nature relationship with the help of deep insights from Tamil tradition. Thus, a search began.
Thanks to the Nature for the initiation and to the Divine for the inspiration. It is in and through them I exist to think and to philosophize. The present book is the published version of the PhD thesis I submitted to University of Madras for which I was awarded Doctor of Philosophy. Therefore, first and foremost I want to thank the University for permitting me to publish it in a book form. Also, I am responsible for the changed title, opinions and comments expressed it.
With great pleasure I record my indebtedness to my research supervisor Dr. V. S. George Joseph, SJ for his continued counsel and guidance during the preparation of the thesis. By his nurturing presence I have grown both intellectually and personally.
I am indebted to the members of doctoral committee, namely Prof. P. Krishnan of Department of Saiva Siddhanta, University of Madras. It is by regular consultation with Prof. Krishnan I became very clear of the subtle meaning of the concepts of Saiva Siddhanta. I express my deepest sentiments of gratitude to Dr. Karu Arumuga Thamizhan who not only inspired me by his writings and his personal contact but also guided me well in understanding the text Tirumandiram.
I owe greatly to Prof. Francis X. Clooney of Harvard University who went through my thesis proposal and its summary in detail and gave me his meticulous observations that helped me go deeper into the subject of my research. Providentially, he was one of the external examiners for thesis. His detailed report with valid questions and critical comments further strengthened my discourse on 'mayai in Tirumandiram.
The contemporary issue of ecological crisis rocks the minds of serious philosophical thinkers to try for an adequate response. The ecological crisis that our world witnesses today has created the necessity of studying the natural environment and the harm done to them by human beings. It has raised questions of human encounter with nature not merely as a question of ethics, but a question of survival. The alarming records of extinction of many species from the face of the beautiful life-bearing planet, Earth, warn the human beings that the date of extinction of homo-sapiens is not very far from the present. Crisis is so acute that human beings started not only crisis management but also curative exercises in setting right relationship between human beings and the nature. What does the nature mean to human beings is the question asked. Proper understanding and upholding the reality of the nature in its physical and material aspects are sought after now more urgently than any time in the history of human thinking.
What confronts the humanity across the globe in the contemporary times is the ecological crisis. The contemporary ecological crisis makes 'a wake-up call' and it seems like 'the last chance to change' human behaviors and ideologies towards nature. The recent slogan of everyone in the world concerned about the planet earth is that it is warmed up more than the optimal level for sustaining life. The global warming and climate change have been proved to be a fact, not a fiction.' The global warming is really a global 'warning' to everyone in our present world to be aware of this inconvenient truth about the ecological catastrophe. Environmental are global. Humanity is facing acute ecological imbalance, where there are paucity of materials, struggle for existence, the concern for economic growth and all kinds of pollution. Humanity can no longer turn a blind eye to this situation. The endangering crisis threatens all existences, human as as non-human. Ecologists have given number of qualitative and quantitative data in analyzing the crisis and in providing guidelines for solving it.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist