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'?

这项研究以印度比哈尔邦的加雅朝圣地为中心，探讨了数字、宗教和政治的交叉点及其对当代印度的影响。通过对加耶印度教徒线上和线下活动的研究，它试图探讨印度宗教、技术和民族主义之间的联系，并更清楚地了解印度教宗教信仰的新兴形式。特别是，它询问“onlife”领域中新出现的印度教宗教信仰形式是否会增加个人权威，使臣民变得更加自主。它探讨了数字空间是否可以促进多元化的声音（达利特人、LGBTQIA+）以及数字宗教如何解决种姓污染以及纯洁和污染规则的问题。它还探讨了数字平台如何促进印度教意识形态的发展，从而为印度政治和宗教之间陷入困境的关系带来新的经验数据，而此时正试图通过连接世界各地的印度教徒来创造印度教意识并将印度教视为世界宗教。有必要探索印度教民族主义或“印度教特性”的政治意识形态是否通过宗教实践传播，以及它如何塑造印度教信仰和实践。总之，该研究将通过新的在线和旧的“离线”实践形式，探索宗教信仰的政治含义，以及印度教政治话语的宗教轮廓。伽耶的在线和离线朝圣实践可以成为实证理解的镜头印度教宗教信仰的新兴形式。加雅是印度比哈尔邦的一座历史名城，位于法尔古河畔。据信罗摩勋爵曾与他的妻子西塔来到这里，向他的祖先致敬。这是一年一度的朝圣活动，吸引了成千上万的朝圣者为祖先的灵魂祈祷。它由当地宗教组织在当地行政部门的支持下组织。线上和线下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“印度教特性”的政治意识形态是否通过宗教实践传播，以及它如何塑造印度教信仰和实践。这就引出了关键问题。例如：数字空间是否反映了现有的社会等级制度，特别是在种姓实践方面？这个空间是否为弱势群体提供声音？ “印度教”和“印度教”之间有什么关系？