Book Review
Summary
This book review of The Archetypal Actions of Ritual by Caroline Humphrey and James Laidlaw (Oxford, 1994) explores the authors' challenge to traditional anthropological views of ritual. Focusing on the aṣṭa-prakāri pūjā in Jain worship, they argue that rituals are not necessarily communicative or symbolic in a fixed way. Instead, they are often ambiguous, flexible, and "meaningless" from a theoretical standpoint, depending on the individual performer's intention rather than a universal structure. The authors promote a dialogical, open-ended approach to ritual theory, shifting interpretative power from scholars to participants. The book is recommended as an essential academic resource on Jain ritual studies.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
This review highlights The Archetypal Actions of Ritual as a groundbreaking work that challenges traditional anthropological views on ritual. By focusing on Jain pūjā, the authors advocate for a flexible, participant-driven interpretation of rituals, emphasizing their ambiguity and individual significance over fixed symbolic meanings. This approach offers a fresh perspective on Jain ritual studies, making the book a valuable academic resource.