This book is an in-depth account of people’s cultural and religious life in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It brings out the significance of Sufi and deity shrines as alternative places of worship that give meaning and purpose to people’s lives. It includes sites and practices commonly associated with Islam/Sufism and Hinduism as spaces of shared culture. Most of the existing literature of Jammu and Kashmir is on Kashmir focusing mostly on topics such as politics, state, identity, conflict or violence. This book proposes to go beyond these works by delimiting the focus and area of the study to culture, society and religion. It explores the sites of religious pluralism and tolerance in the violence-ridden territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The chapters are mainly based on ethnographic data collected through qualitative methods like observation – participant and non-participant, case studies, in-depth interviews and oral history. The book is of interest to researchers, both faculty and graduate students, in the areas of sociology of religion, social anthropology, religious studies, cultural studies, Sufism, shrines and deity worship in South Asia.
Author(s): Abha Chauhan
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 349
City: Singapore
Foreword
Introduction
Contents
Editor and Contributors
1 Shared Sacred Spaces: The Sufi Shrines of Jammu Region
1 Jammu: Mixed Society and Syncretic Cultural Ethos
2 Representation of Jammu City: A City of Temples and a City of Shrines
3 Sufi Shrines: Patronage by the Rulers
4 Sufi Shrines as Part of Jammu’s Culture
5 Religious Ambivalence and Popularity Across Religious Divide
6 Conclusion
References
2 The Sufi Shrines of Kishtwar: Dargah of Shah Farid-ud-Din and Shah Asrar-ud-Din
1 Introduction
2 Sufism and Sufi Shrines in Kishtwar
3 Shah Farid-ud-Din and Shah Asrar-Ud-Din: History, Legends and Events
4 Inter-community Relations in Kishtwar: Impact of Sufi Saints and Sufi Shrines
5 Conclusion
References
3 Sufism and the Khanqah of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah in Shahdara Sharief: An Ethnographic Fathom
1 Sufism and Sufi Masters in Islam
2 The Khanqah and the Tomb
3 Arrival of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah in Shahdara, Rajouri
4 The Miracles and the Orange Tree
5 The Religious Function and Celebration of Urs
6 Beyond the Concept of Khanqah: Emerging Hub of Education and Social-Welfare
7 Conclusion
References
4 The Mystic Sufi Saint in Jammu: Peer Baba Budhan Ali Shah
1 Discourse on Mysticism in Classical Sociology
2 Sufism, Syncretism, and Symbiotic Relationship
3 Sufism in Jammu and Kashmir
4 The Dargah of Baba Budhan Ali Shah in Jammu City
5 Ethnographic Accounts at the Dargah
6 Deg Pakana (Preparing Food/Cooking)
7 Oil Offering to Chirag (Lamp) in Dargah
8 Faith, Belief and Wishes Granted
9 Mythical Stories of Baba in the Course of Narratives
10 In Dilemma of Devotion and Religion
11 Social and Economic Aspects of the Dargah
12 Conclusion
References
5 Cultural and Religious Perspectives on the Sufi Shrines: Khori Baba Dargah on the Line of Control in District Rajouri
1 Introduction
2 Jammu and Kashmir Ethnography: Setting the Scene
3 Rajouri: The Locale
4 Nowshera: Rajouri’s Frontier with Nine Lion Gates
5 History of the Shrine of Khori Baba
6 The Shrine, the Temple and the Army
7 The Bonds that Unite the Communities
8 The Architecture
9 The Shrine and the Shelled Borders
10 The Questions
11 Conclusion
References
6 The Healing Touch Saint: Baba Chamliyal Shrine at the International Border in Samba District
1 The Context
2 The Shrine of Baba Chamliyal
3 Administration of the Baba Chamliyal Shrine
4 The Mela: Annual Fair
5 The Rules and Restrictions at the Baba Chamliyal Shrine
6 The Healing Touch: Narratives of the Patients at the Shrine
7 Conclusion
References
7 Documenting the Folk Deities of Jammu Region
1 Background
2 Typology and Nature of the Deities
2.1 Gram-Devtas (Village Gods)
2.2 Gram-Devis (Village Goddesses)
2.3 Naag-Devtas (Serpent Deities)
2.4 Shaheed-Devtas (Martyr Deities)
2.5 Silabantis (Sati Deities)
2.6 Aaghat-Devtas (Exotic Deities)
3 Geographical Spread of the Folk Deities
4 Forms of Folk Deities
5 Shrines of the Folk Deities and Their Architectural Style
6 Rituals Associated with Folk Deities
6.1 Performance of Maile or Annual Congregation
6.2 Performance of Jaatra
6.3 Performance of Karaks
6.4 Persons/Social Groups Associated with Rituals and Other Activities
7 Concluding the Findings
References
8 Understanding the Concept of Shakti: Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu
1 Introduction
2 Understanding the Concept of Shakti
3 Who Is Mata Vaishno Devi?
4 Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine: Cultural Landscape, Myths, and Legends
5 History of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine
6 Mata Vaishno Devi: The Shrine Board
7 Performance of Rituals at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine
8 Mata’s Call and Sacred Slogans (Jaikara)
9 Sacred Pindis and Other Religious Symbols
10 Aarti at the Shrine
11 The Reasons of Mata’s Popularity
12 Mata Vaishno Devi and the Himalayan Goddesses
13 Concluding Remarks
References
9 Religiosity, Ritual Practices, and Folk Deity Worship: Bawa Jitto Shrine in Marh Block of Jammu Region
1 Background
2 Religion, Modernity and Contemporary Society
3 Kul-Deity Worship Among Dogra Community of Jammu Region
4 Dynamics of Sacred Complex of Bawa Jitto: Beliefs and Ritual Practices
4.1 Legend of Bawa Jitto
4.2 The Geographical Location of the Sacred Site
4.3 Bawa-Da-Tallab
4.4 Beliefs and Rituals Practices During Jhiri-Ka-Mela
5 Summing Up
References
10 Naghui Tewhaar and Deity Worship: A Folk Festival at the Goddess Chandi Temple in Machail Village of Padar Region
1 Folk Deity and Folk Hinduism
2 Chandi Mata Temple at Machail in Padar Region
3 Naghui Tewhaar: A Festive Celebration on the Culmination of Puhaali and Restrictive Sawan
4 Religious Restrictions During Puhaali
4.1 Milk and Milk Products
4.2 Teetotalism
4.3 Food Neutrality
4.4 Celibacy
4.5 Forbearance
4.6 Other Restrictions on Puhaal
5 Puhaali: Reasons for Decline
6 Closure of the Temple During the Month of Sawan in the Padar Region
7 Celebration of Naghui Tewhaar
8 Conclusion
References
11 Naag Deity Worship in Bhaderwah: A Case Study of Jaatra Ritual
1 Introduction
2 Naag Worship in India
3 Naag Lords in Bhaderwah of Jammu Region
4 Jaatra Ritual
5 Conclusion
References
12 Living Tradition and Faith Galore: Baba Ballo Devasthan of Village Mathwar in Jammu
1 Introduction
2 Kul-Devta/Kul-Devi Traditions of Jammu
3 Apotheosis of Baba Ballo and Emergence of Sacred Place at Village Mathwar
4 Devasthan at Village Mathwar
5 Village Mathwar: The Sacred Grove
6 Conclusion
References
13 Datti Ji: Folk Deity Worship Among the Jamwal-Pandit Clan of Jammu
1 Introduction
2 Hinduism: Its Classical and Folk Forms
3 The Jamwal-Pandits: A Clan of Brahmins in Jammu Region
4 Datti Ji: The Folk Clan Deity of Jamwal-Pandits
5 Maile Congregations
6 Other Rituals Associated with the Worship of Datti Ji
7 Datti Ji: The Protector, Punisher, Provider, and Forgiver
8 Believers from Within and Outside the Community
9 Folk Deity Worship: Adapting New Forms
10 Conclusion
References
Epilogue
Glossary
Author Index
Subject Index
