Religions of South Asia: an Introduction
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RELIGIONS OF SOUTH ASIA: AN INTRODUCTION South Asia is home to many of the world’s most vibrant religious faiths. It is also one of the most dynamic and historically rich regions on earth, where changing political and social structures have caused religions to interact through decisive conflicts as well as by sharing their cultural horizons. This textbook introduces the religions of South Asia, from the indigenous Hindu, Jaina, Buddhist, and Sikh traditions, to incoming influences such as the Zoroastrian, Judaic, Christian, Muslim, and newly emerging Baha¯ ¯ı religions. In nine chapters, it surveys these belief systems of South Asia and explains their history, practices, values, and worldviews. A final chapter helps students relate what they have learned to current discussions in postcolonial theory and interpretation, preparing the way for future study. Entirely written by leading experts, Religions of South Asia combines solid scholarship with clear and lively writing to provide students with an accessible and comprehensive introduction. All chapters are specially designed to aid cross-religious comparison, following a standard format covering set topics and issues; the book reveals to students the core principles of each faith and its particular place in South Asian history and society. It is a perfect resource for all students of South Asia’s diverse and fascinating faiths. Sushil Mittal is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence at James Madison University in Virginia. Gene Thursby is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida. They have previously coedited The Hindu World (2004), also published by Routledge. RELIGIONS OF SOUTH ASIA An introduction Edited by Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby First published 2006 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2006. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group © 2006 Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby for editorial selection and material; individual contributors for their contributions All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data A catalog record for this book has been requested ISBN10: 0–415–22390–3 (hbk) ISBN10: 0–415–22391–1 (pbk) ISBN13: 978–0–415–22390–4 (hbk) ISBN13: 978–0–415–22391–1 (pbk) TO OUR PARENTS: MAYA DEVI AND KHYALI RAM MITTAL AND MARIELLA ICENHOWER AND GENE FAYE THURSBY CONTENTS List of illustrations xi List of maps xii Note on transliteration xiii Acknowledgments xiv Introduction 1 SUSHIL MITTAL AND GENE THURSBY Traditions of South Asia: from inside and outside 1 South Asia as a region 3 Dharma in Indic or South Asian religions 5 Traditions of outsiders: the world’s gifts to India 7 The teacher-scholars who are the book’s authors 8 Recommendations for student readers 9 PART ONE What India has given to the world 13 1 Hindu Dharma 15 JOHN GRIMES, SUSHIL MITTAL, AND GENE THURSBY The tradition defined 15 History 22 Cosmos 29 Literature 35 Ethics and human relations 57 Institutions and practices 65 Modern expressions 74 Relations with other religions 80 Transmission of the tradition outside of India 83 vii CONTENTS 2 Jaina Dharma 87 ANNE VALLELY The tradition defined 87 Cosmos and history 88 Sacred life and literature 92 Institutions and practices 95 Ethics 96 Relations with other religions 98 Modern expressions and the tradition outside of India 100 3 Bauddha Dhamma 103 TESSA BARTHOLOMEUSZ The tradition defined 103 Cosmos and history 106 Ethics and human relations 110 Sacred life and literature 112 Relations with other religions 121 4 Sikh Dharam 131 PASHAURA SINGH The tradition defined 131 Cosmos and history 131 Sacred life and literature 138 Institutions and practices 141 Ethics and human relations 143 Modern expressions 145 Transmission of the tradition outside of India 146 Relations with other religions 147 The tradition in the study of religions 148 PART TWO What India has received from the world 149 5 Indian Zoroastrian tradition 151 T. M. LUHRMANN The tradition defined 151 Cosmos and history 151 Sacred life and literature 154 Institutions and practices 156 Ethics and human relations 158 viii CONTENTS Modern expressions 159 Transmission of the tradition outside of India 164 Relations with other religions 165 The tradition in the study of religions 166 6 Indian Judaic tradition 169 SHALVA WEIL The tradition defined 169 Cosmos and history 170 Sacred life and literature 172 Institutions and practices 176 Ethics and human relations 177 Modern expressions 179 Transmission of the tradition outside of India 180 Relations with other religions 181 The tradition in the study of religions 182 7 Indian Christian tradition 185 M. THOMAS THANGARAJ The tradition defined 185 Cosmos and history 186 Sacred life and literature 188 Institutions and practice 191 Ethics and human relations 193 Modern expressions 194 Transmission of the tradition outside of India 195 Relations with other religions 196 The tradition in the study of religions 197 8 Indian Muslim tradition 201 PETER GOTTSCHALK The tradition defined 201 The tradition in the study of religions 203 Cosmos and history 206 Sacred life and literature 218 Institutions and practices 227 Ethics and human relations 232 Modern expressions 235 Transmission of the tradition outside of India 240 Relations with other religions 242 ix CONTENTS 9 Indian Baha¯ ¯ı tradition 247 WILLIAM GARLINGTON The tradition defined 247 Cosmos and history 247 Ethics and human relations 252 Scriptures and sacred places 253 Institutions and practices 254 Relations with other religions 257 Prospects for the future 259 PART THREE Beyond the introduction 261 10 Contested categories and issues in interpretation 263 CARL OLSON The problematic nature of religion 263 Problems of terminology and categories 268 Edward Said and Orientalism 273 Representations and representational thinking 282 Beyond prejudice 285 References 287 Index 299 x ILLUSTRATIONS 1 Gan. es´a, divine remover of obstacles. Courtesy of the artist P. R. VanderMeer (née Miller). xvi 2Kr.s.n. a and the ten avata¯ras of Vis.n. u. Courtesy of the artist Nicola Barsaleau. 14 3 A sandstone image of the tı¯rthan˙ kara Maha¯vı¯ra. Courtesy of John Eskenazi Ltd. 86 4 Annual ceremony at which the Prime Minister and President of India honor the memory of Dr B. R. Ambedkar. Courtesy of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 102 5 Guru Granth Sa¯hib installed in the historic gurdwa¯ra¯ Dukh Nivaran in Patiala, Punjab. Courtesy of Dr Marilyn Pearcy Lange. 130 6 Installation of the foundation for a new fire temple at the site of the first Parsi landing in Gujarat. Courtesy of Professor T. M. Luhrmann. 150 7 Torah scroll in the Bene Israel synagogue at Alibag, south of Mumbai. Courtesy of Professor Shalva Weil. 168 8 Mother Teresa of the Missionaries of Charity. Reproduced by permission of Magnum Photos and photographer Raghu Rai. 184 9 Training in Qura¯n recitation at a madrasah in northern India. Courtesy of Professor Peter Gottschalk. 200 10 The House of Worship in New Delhi, popularly known as the Lotus Temple. Courtesy of Baha¯ ¯ı World News Service. 246 11 A woman, her religion unknown, seated in prayer at the tomb of a S. u¯fı¯ saint in a village in Bihar. Courtesy of Professor Peter Gottschalk. 262 xi MAPS Map 1 – Relative size and location of South Asia 2 Map 2 – Physical features of South Asia 4 Map 3 – Historical and holy sites of South Asia 6 xii NOTE ON TRANSLITERATION We have, in general, adhered to the standard transliteration system for each of the Indic languages. Although Indic languages make no distinction between uppercase and lowercase letters, we use capitals to indicate proper names and titles; all other Indic terms, with the exception of those used as adjectives, are italicized and not capitalized. Terms that have been anglicized in form or have come into English usage are neverthe- less given in their standard transliterated forms, with diacritics (e.g., Kr.s.n. a, pan.d.ita, and karma). Modern place names are given in their current transliterated forms, but without diacritics. If references to such places are made in a literary or historical context, however, they are given in their standard transliterated forms, with diacritics. Modern proper names are given in their current transliterated forms, but without diacritics. All premodern proper names, however, are in their standard transliterated forms, with diacritics. The reader is advised to observe carefully four important terms that are similar in their linguistic form but different in their meaning. The four are Bra¯hman. which refers to a category of people, in general those who are born into one of several high-status castes and in particular some from among their number who regularly perform priestly func- tions: Bra¯hman. a which refers to a category of Vedic texts. Brahman which is a trad- itional way to refer to that which is Real, absolutely, ultimately, and in principle beyond all qualifications or descriptive designations; and Bra¯hman. ism which refers to an authoritative and highly influential sector of Hindu tradition that is preserved and transmitted, ideally at least, by Bra¯man.