World of Worldly Gods

World of Worldly Gods: The Persistence and Transformation of Shamanic Bon in Buddhist Bhutan is an extraordinarily rich engagement with village ritual practices in Bhutan framed in the encompassing religious dynamics of contemporary Bhutan. Kelzang Tashi has produced by far the best ethnographic work we have on Bhutan and it stands out as one of finest ethnographic accounts of ritual practice across the Himalayas. Conceptually sophisticated and ethnographically grounded well beyond ritual, this work stands to become a classic in the anthropology of the Himalayas. * David Holmberg, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Cornell University * This unique study combines rich ethnographic detail about religious practices in Central Bhutan with fascinating stories of on-the-ground social and political maneuverings for religious authority. Kelzang Tashi shows us religious change not as the outcome of some vague modernization process, but as the product of specific local conflicts, and specific histories of engagement between local villagers and the state. This is a valuable contribution to the emerging anthropology of Bhutan. * Sherry B. Ortner, Distinguished Research Professor of Anthropology, UCLA * Based on research into the rituals of bon specialists in the village of Goleng in central Bhutan, the book records bon ritual traditions anchored in the rapidly changing social hierarchy of the villagers. It impartially describes the patterns of increasing control by lay Buddhist specialists. With insight and new information, it is a must-read for those interested in the real life of communities in the Himalayan region and ethnographic Tibet. * Daniel Berounsky, Associate Professor of Tibetology, Charles University, Prague *