An Introduction to Swaminarayan HinduismThis book is a comprehensive study of a modern form of Hinduism that is growing in the place of its birth in the Indian state of Gujarat and among Indian immigrants in East Africa, Great Britain, and the United States. It is the most prominent form of transnational Hinduism because it creates networks that define and preserve ethnic and religious identity in the modern context of rapid mobility and communication. Founded by Swaminarayan (1781-1830), a religious reformer in a time of great social and political change in Gujarat, Swaminarayan Hinduism expounds a path of devotion to Swaminarayan as the final, perfect manifestation of God. Professor Williams provides a detailed introduction to the history, theology, discipline, and ritual of this important form of Hinduism. |
Contents
The beginnings of Swaminarayan Hinduism | 5 |
Growth administration and schism | 33 |
The structure of Swaminarayan theology | 69 |
The sacred world | 100 |
Dharma the disciplined life | 148 |
The sacred thread transmission of tradition | 174 |
Transnational growth of Swaminarayan Hinduism | 197 |
Afterword | 232 |
Glossary | 237 |
| 242 | |
| 250 | |
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Common terms and phrases
abode acharya Acharya of Ahmedabad Acharya Tejendraprasad activities administrative Ahmedabad and Vadtal Ahmedabad diocese Akshar Purushottam Sanstha akshardham Amdavad ascetics associated avatars Bhagavata Purana Bhuj birth Brahmin bright half Britain British caste celebration centers century ceremony clothing cultural deities devotees disciples discipline divine East Africa emigration established fellowship festival followers Gadhada Gadi Gujarat Gunatitanand Swami guru Heber householders human form image of Swaminarayan immigrants India initiation institutions Kathiawar Kenya Krishna Kutch leaders mahant major manifestation Mombasa movement Muktananda Narayana Narayanswarupdas organization Patel perform Pramukh Swami Ramananda Ramanuja reform residence ritual sadhus Sahajanand Swami satsang sect separate Shastri Maharaj Shikshapatri shrine social spiritual status supreme person Swami Yagnapurushdas Swaminarayan Hinduism Swaminarayan Hindus Swaminarayan religion Swaminarayan temple teaching Tejendraprasad Pande tion tour tradition transnational Uganda Vachanamritam Vadtal Vadtal diocese Vaishnava Vallabhacharya villages vows women worship Yogiji Maharaj young