C. J. Fuller is Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His books include "The Camphor Flame" (Princeton) and "Servants of the Goddess".

"This book is beautifully written in a clear style that will make even the most arcane aspects of the priestly profession accessible to undergraduate readers. At the same time, it is a theoretically sophisticated work that will be read widely. No one can write about the Minakshi temple priests with the authority that Dr. Fuller brings to the task. As ethnography the book is unique."—Mattison Mines, author of Public Faces, Private Voices

• Figures and Tables ix Preface xi Note on Transliteration xv Key to Figures 1 and 2 xvii Chapter One: The Priests and the Minakshi Temple's Renovation Ritual 1 Chapter Two: Rights,Duties,and Work 19 Chapter Three: Family and Domestic Life 57 Chapter Four: The Agamas and Priestly Education 80 Chapter Five: Religious Politics and the Priests 114 Chapter Six: Modernity,Traditionalism,and the State 152 Notes 169 Glossary 191 Bibliography 195 Index 205

C. J. Fuller is Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His books include "The Camphor Flame" (Princeton) and "Servants of the Goddess".

"This book is beautifully written in a clear style that will make even the most arcane aspects of the priestly profession accessible to undergraduate readers. At the same time, it is a theoretically sophisticated work that will be read widely. No one can write about the Minakshi temple priests with the authority that Dr. Fuller brings to the task. As ethnography the book is unique."—Mattison Mines, author of Public Faces, Private Voices

• Figures and Tables ix Preface xi Note on Transliteration xv Key to Figures 1 and 2 xvii Chapter One: The Priests and the Minakshi Temple's Renovation Ritual 1 Chapter Two: Rights,Duties,and Work 19 Chapter Three: Family and Domestic Life 57 Chapter Four: The Agamas and Priestly Education 80 Chapter Five: Religious Politics and the Priests 114 Chapter Six: Modernity,Traditionalism,and the State 152 Notes 169 Glossary 191 Bibliography 195 Index 205

C. J. Fuller is Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His books include "The Camphor Flame" (Princeton) and "Servants of the Goddess".

"This book is beautifully written in a clear style that will make even the most arcane aspects of the priestly profession accessible to undergraduate readers. At the same time, it is a theoretically sophisticated work that will be read widely. No one can write about the Minakshi temple priests with the authority that Dr. Fuller brings to the task. As ethnography the book is unique."—Mattison Mines, author of Public Faces, Private Voices

• Figures and Tables ix Preface xi Note on Transliteration xv Key to Figures 1 and 2 xvii Chapter One: The Priests and the Minakshi Temple's Renovation Ritual 1 Chapter Two: Rights,Duties,and Work 19 Chapter Three: Family and Domestic Life 57 Chapter Four: The Agamas and Priestly Education 80 Chapter Five: Religious Politics and the Priests 114 Chapter Six: Modernity,Traditionalism,and the State 152 Notes 169 Glossary 191 Bibliography 195 Index 205