Shaman, Saiva and Sufi by R.O. Winstedt

Description

Shaman, Saiva and Sufi is a book by R. O. Winstedt, first published in 1925. This pioneering work explores the evolution of Malay religious practices by examining the layered interplay between indigenous animism, Hindu Shaivism, and Islamic Sufism. Drawing from his long experience in British Malaya, Winstedt offers a detailed study of charms, rituals, and magical beliefs, revealing how these belief systems coexisted and influenced one another in the spiritual life of the Malays. His work stands as a valuable early ethnographic record and reflects the syncretic nature of Malay religious culture. As both a colonial administrator and scholar, Winstedt brought a depth of philological and cultural understanding to his writings, helping to shape the academic study of Southeast Asian religions and folklore.

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