Mountain, Water, Rock, God: Understanding Kedarnath in the Twenty-First Century

In "Mountain, Water, Rock, God," Luke Whitmore explores the 2013 flooding of the Hindu Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath through a religious and ecological context, arguing that close attention to places of religious significance offers a model for thinking through connections between ritual, narrative, climate destabilization, tourism, development, and disaster.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 27 November 2018
Publisher: University of California Press

In his book "Mountain, Water, Rock, God: The Disastrous Flooding of Kedarnath in 2013 and the Long Story of a Powerful Realm," Luke Whitmore delves into the devastating floods that struck the revered Hindu Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath in 2013, placing it within a broader religious and ecological context. Through a holistic theoretical framework that combines phenomenological and systems-based approaches to the study of religion, pilgrimage, place, and ecology, Whitmore explores the rich tapestry of this powerful realm of the Hindu god Shiva. He argues that paying close attention to places of religious significance provides a valuable model for understanding the intricate connections between ritual, narrative, climate destabilization, tourism, development, and disaster. By examining these critical components of human life in the twenty-first century, Whitmore demonstrates how they intersect and shape the human experience of place.

This book offers a profound exploration of the complex interplay between religion, ecology, and human experiences, shedding light on the ways in which these forces shape our understanding of the world and our place within it. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of these three domains and the challenges and opportunities they present for our collective future.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520298026