"This book deals with the history of interpretation of a theological concept of self-surrender - prapatti - in late twelfth and thirteenth century religious texts of the Srivaisnava community of South India. It is a unique textual study, which shows that medieval sectarian formation in its theological dimension is a fluid and ambivalent enterprise, where conflict and differentiation are presaged on "sharing", whether of a common canon, or two languages (Tamil and Sanskrit), a common saint, a common corpus of rituals or of a "meta-social" arena such as the temple itself." "The book contributes to a new, intellectual history of medieval Indian religion with a specific emphasis on South Indian Srivaisnavism. It will be of interest to scholars of Srivaisnavism and Hindu and Indian Religious Studies."--BOOK JACKET.