From Gurudev to Doctor-Sahib

The All World Gayatri Pariwar is a modern Hindu movement working to revive ancient Vedic-style rituals. The movement was founded by a charismatic figure named Shriram Sharma, but is now headed by his successor, a medical doctor named Pranav Pandya. I argue that the continued vitality of the movement...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Method & theory in the study of religion
Main Author: Heifetz, Daniel Philip (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Brill 2018
In: Method & theory in the study of religion
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B All World Gayatri Pariwar / Charismatic / Success / Emotion / Physician / Scientist / Authority
RelBib Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AZ New religious movements
KBM Asia
Further subjects:B Charisma science affect religious authority Hinduism
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:The All World Gayatri Pariwar is a modern Hindu movement working to revive ancient Vedic-style rituals. The movement was founded by a charismatic figure named Shriram Sharma, but is now headed by his successor, a medical doctor named Pranav Pandya. I argue that the continued vitality of the movement in the absence of its charismatic founder has to do with the ways in which Pandya’s scientific authority as a medical doctor replaces Sharma’s charismatic authority. By attending to the affective dimensions of these two forms of authority, their differences become less stark and it becomes clear how scientific authority, despite its seeming disenchantment, might retain some of the emotional power of charismatic authority.
ISSN:1570-0682
Contains:In: Method & theory in the study of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15700682-12341433