Digital Space and Hindu Religiosity in India: Negotiation & Contestation in Everyday Life

本研究以印度比哈尔邦的伽耶朝圣地为中心，探讨了数字、宗教和政治的交叉点及其对当代印度的影响。通过对伽耶印度教徒在线上和线下活动的研究，它试图研究印度宗教、技术和民族主义之间的联系，并对印度教的新兴形式有更清晰的理解。特别是，它提出了一个问题：在“非生命体”领域，新兴的印度教形式是否增加了个人权威，使主体变得更加自主。它探讨了数字空间是否可以促进不同的声音（达利特人，LGBTQIA+），以及数字宗教如何解决种姓污染问题，以及纯洁和污染的规则。它还质疑了数字平台以何种方式促进了印度教至上主义意识形态的发展，从而为印度政治与宗教之间陷入困境的关系带来了新的经验数据，目前有人试图通过连接世界各地的印度教徒，并将印度教塑造成一种世界宗教，来创造印度教意识。有必要探索印度教民族主义或“印度教至上主义”的政治意识形态是否通过宗教习俗传播，以及它如何塑造印度教信仰和习俗。总之，该研究将通过新的在线和旧的“离线”实践形式探索宗教虔诚的政治含义和印度政治话语的宗教轮廓。伽耶的线上和线下朝圣活动可以作为对印度教新兴形式的经验理解的一个镜头。伽耶是印度比哈尔邦的一座历史名城，位于法古河畔。据说罗摩勋爵和他的妻子西塔曾来过这里，向他的祖先致敬。这是一年一度的朝圣之旅，吸引了成千上万的朝圣者为他们祖先的灵魂祈祷。它由地方宗教组织在地方行政部门的支持下组织。对在线和离线宗教实践的交叉研究对于全面分析印度教信仰和实践的谈判和争论至关重要。虽然信仰和实践的多样性可能会带来“宗教杂交”，但跨宗教选择多种信仰和实践，形成个性化的宗教性。然而，有必要探索印度教民族主义或“印度教至上主义”的政治意识形态是否通过宗教习俗传播，以及它如何塑造印度教信仰和习俗。这就引出了一些关键问题。例如：数字空间是否反映了现有的社会等级制度，特别是种姓制度？这个空间能为弱势群体提供声音吗？“印度教”和“印度教”的关系是什么？

This research, centred on the pilgrimage site of Gaya in Bihar, India explores the intersections of the digital, the religious, and the political, and its implication in contemporary India. Through a study of the online and offline practices of Hindus at Gaya, it seeks to examine the link between religion, technology, and ethno-nationalism in India, and to achieve a clearer understanding of emergent forms of Hindu religiosity. In particular, it asks whether new, emergent forms of Hindu religiosity in the 'onlife' sphere, increases individual authority, allowing subjects to become more autonomous. It explores whether digital space can promote diverse voices (Dalits, LGBTQIA+) and how digital religion is addressing the issue of caste contamination and rules of purity and pollution. It also interrogates in what ways digital platforms are facilitating the growth of Hindutva ideology, thus bringing new empirical data to bear on the troubled relationship between politics and religion in India, at a time when there is an attempt to create Hindu consciousness by connecting Hindus worldwide and posing Hinduism as a world religion. There is a need of exploring if the political ideology of Hindu nationalism or 'Hindutva' is transmitted through religious practices and how it shapes Hindu beliefs and practices. In summary, the study will explore both the political implications of religiosity, and the religious contours of Hindu political discourse through new online and older 'offline' forms of practice.The online and offline pilgrimage practices at Gaya could be a lens for an empirical understanding of the emergent form of Hindu religiosity. Gaya is a historic city in Bihar, India, on the banks of the Falgu River. It is believed that Lord Ram had visited here with his wife, Sita, to pay homage to his ancestors. It is an annual pilgrimage attracts thousands of pilgrims to pray for souls of their ancestors. It organized by the local religious organization with the support of local administration. The intersectional study of online and offline religious practices is crucial for a comprehensive analysis of negotiation and contestation of Hindu beliefs and practices. Although a diversity of beliefs and practices might bring 'religious hybridization', choosing multiple faiths and practices across religions and forming personalized religiosity. However, there is a need of exploring if the political ideology of Hindu nationalism or 'Hindutva' is transmitted through religious practices and how it shapes Hindu beliefs and practices. This begs key questions. For example: Does digital space reflect existing social hierarchy, particularly in terms of caste practices? Does this space provide voices to disadvantaged groups? What is the relationship between 'Hindutva' and 'Hinduism'?