A New God in the Indian Diaspora? : Muneeswaran Worship in Contemporary Singapore

Examines the worship of a Hindu deity known as Muneeswaran in contemporary Singapore. The strong presence and veneration of this male deity on the island, and the innovative styles of religiosity now associated with him, justify calling Muneeswaran a 'new' god in the Indian diaspora. Sinha documents a neglected aspect of local Hinduism and the ritual domain surrounding guardian deities (kaaval deivam) such as Muneeswaran. She raises a broader question: why has this deity, brought from Tamilnadu to Malaya more than 170 years ago, such a strong appeal for young Singaporean Hindus three and four generations removed from their Indian origins? Her exploration of these issues provides an ethnographic documentation of urban-based Hindu religiosity in contemporary Singapore, and makes an important contribution to the global study of religion in the diasporas.