South Asian Religions: Tradition and TodayKaren Pechilis, Selva J. Raj The religious landscape of South Asia is complex and fascinating. While existing literature tends to focus on the majority religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, much less attention is given to Jainism, Sikhism, Islam or Christianity. While not nelecting the majority traditions, this valuable resource also explores the important role which the minority traditions play in the religious life of the subcontinent, covering popular as well as elite expressions of religious faith. By examining the realities of religious life, and the ways in which the traditions are practised on the ground, this book provides an illuminating introduction to religion in South Asia. |
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Akal auspicious Baghdadis believed Bene Israel bhikkhunis bhikkhus Buddha Buddhist called caste celebrated century Christian identity Christianity in India churches cultural Dalit death deities Delhi devotional dharma diaspora Digambar divine doctrines Eastern Orthodox festival gender groups gurdwaras Guru Nanak hadith Hindu Hindu tradition Hinduism human Imam Indian Christians Islam Israel Jain Jainism Jewish Jews Jinas karma Khalsa known lay Jains liberation lineage living Mahavir Mahayana mantra meditation mendicants missionaries monastic monks Mughal Muhammad Mumbai Muslims nuns one's Oraon Panth perform Photo taken pilgrimage popular poya practices prayers Prophet Protestant Punjabi Qur'an region religious rites ritual Roman Catholic sacred sangha scholars scripture Selva shrines Shvetambar Sikh Sikhism social society South Asia South Asian Christianity South India spiritual Sri Lanka Sthanakavasi Syrian Tamil Tamilnadu temples texts Theravada Tibetan tion Tipitaka tribal religions tribes University Press Veda Vinaya wedding women worship