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

印度的数字空间和印度教宗教信仰：谈判

• 批准号: 2882271
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Edinburgh
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2882271
• 关键词: Digital; Space; Hindu; Religiosity; India

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'?

本研究以印度比哈尔邦的迦耶朝圣地为中心，探讨了数字、宗教和政治的交叉点及其在当代印度的意义。通过对印度教徒在迦耶的在线和离线实践的研究，它试图研究宗教，技术和印度民族主义之间的联系，并对印度教宗教信仰的新兴形式有更清晰的理解。特别是，它问是否新的，新兴形式的印度教宗教信仰在“onlife”领域，增加个人权威，允许主体变得更加自主。它探讨了数字空间是否可以促进不同的声音（贱民，LGBTQIA+），以及数字宗教如何解决种姓污染和纯洁和污染规则的问题。它还询问了数字平台以何种方式促进了印度教意识形态的发展，从而为印度政治与宗教之间的关系带来了新的经验数据，当时有人试图通过连接世界各地的印度教徒并将印度教视为世界宗教来创造印度教意识。有必要探讨印度教民族主义或“Hindutva”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，这项研究将探讨宗教的政治含义，并通过新的在线和旧的“离线”形式的做法，印度政治话语的宗教轮廓。在迦耶的在线和离线朝圣的做法可能是一个透镜的经验理解的新兴形式的印度教宗教。加雅是印度比哈尔邦的一座历史名城，位于法尔古河畔。据信，拉姆勋爵曾与他的妻子西塔来到这里，向他的祖先致敬。这是一个一年一度的朝圣吸引成千上万的朝圣者祈祷他们的祖先的灵魂。它由当地宗教组织在当地行政部门的支持下组织。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确认至关重要。虽然信仰和实践的多样性可能会带来“宗教杂交”，但在宗教之间选择多种信仰和实践，并形成个性化的宗教信仰。然而，有必要探讨印度教民族主义或“Hindutva”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？这个空间是否为弱势群体提供了发言权？“Hindutva”和“Hinduism”之间的关系是什么？