Book Review ; Revisiting Gananath Obeyesekere by Ruwan M Jayatunge

 

Dr. Ruwan M. Jayathunge's recent publication, "Revisiting Gananath Obeyesekere," holds significant contemporary relevance as it offers a comprehensive analytical examination of the influential works and research contributions of Gananath Obeyesekere, a distinguished former anthropology professor at Princeton University. This book delves into various aspects of Obeyesekere's scholarship, including his insightful interpretations of the Sinhabahu myth and the Oedipus complex, as well as his critical essays such as "The Work of Culture: Symbolic Transformation in Psychoanalysis and Anthropology," "Dutthagamani and the Buddhist Conscience," and "The Doomed King: A Requiem for Sri Vikrama Rajasinha." Additionally, it explores themes in "Medusa's Hair: An Essay on Personal Symbols and Religious Experience," and "Karma and Reincarnation Concepts," alongside a cross-cultural analysis in "Karma and Rebirth: A Cross-Cultural Study." The book also addresses the myths that have historically justified colonialism, as seen in "The Man-Eating Myth and Human Sacrifice in the South Seas," and provides insights into the Pattini cult in Sri Lanka through "The Cult of the Goddess Pattini." Enhancing the book's academic credibility, it features a foreword by Vamık Volkan, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, as well as contributions from French psychiatrist Eric Smadja, a close academic associate of Obeyesekere.