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- Title
Diversity, Pluralist Practices and Religious Identities in 19<sup>th</sup> Century Punjab.
- Authors
Kaur, Sukhdeep
- Abstract
Religion is one of the most authoritative, prominent and universal forces in human society. It shapes how people behave and how they think about the sphere and their own place in it. There was immense religious diversity in the nineteenth century Punjab, which was marked by a rich variety of religious beliefs and practice in Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism. Religious values influenced people's achievements, which in turn helped them to interpret their own experiences. The dominant forms of religious beliefs and practices, however, were those of the Hindus. The authority of the Vedas was recognized by the priests of nearly all Hindu sects: Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism. The most important forms of Muslim religious life were embodied in the beliefs and practices of the Sunnis, Shias and Sufis. Similarly, a large number of diverse religious identities were found among the Sikhs, some from an earlier period such as the Udasis and Minas and others from the modern era such as Nirankaris and Namdharis who flourished during the colonial period. This paper deals with the historical antecedents of the diverse religious identities found in the social landscape of 19th century Punjab. Understanding the status and space of these sectarian developments that emerged during 19th century and position of major sects has been examined in terms of their doctrinal or spiritual ideas and concepts, beliefs and practices as well as their socio-historical standing.
- Subjects
PUNJAB (India); RELIGIOUS identity; RELIGIOUS diversity; SAIVISM; VAISHNAVISM; SHAKTISM
- Publication
Journal of Sikh & Punjab Studies, 2021, Vol 28, Issue 1, p67
- ISSN
0971-5223
- Publication type
Article