Religion in South Asia

ECTS: 7.5 / 5

The course offers an introduction to the wide and complex field of religion in South Asia with a focus on Hinduism but also including Buddhism and indigenous or “tribal” religions. Four dimensions or strands will run throughout the sessions and topics we will discuss: key cultural ideas (such as ritual purity or auspiciousness), practices (such as sacrifice or possession), central personages (kings, ascetics or deities) and forms of socio-ritual organization (caste or sect). We will deal with Vedic religion, ascetic movements and forms of Hindu devotionalism and discuss topics such as Hindu nationalism, illness and healing, conversion, death rituals or the position of “untouchables” (Dalits) in Indian society. The course will combine approaches of cultural anthropology and Indology and offers insights into historical and contemporary South Asia. Students will intensively engage with academic literature, films and selected original (translated) texts.