The Kali Yuga as 'the Wealth-Pursuit Era': Perceptions of Patronage at a Hindu Shrine
Reflecting India's national debate about corruption, in some instances the Kali Yuga, the present Hindu era, may be locally interpreted as an era of ambition for wealth. This study documents such a case in devotees' perceptions of patronage for B?l?j?, the presiding god of the village of S...
| Published in: | Nidān |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Univ.
2014
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| In: |
Nidān
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| Further subjects: | B
Hanuman
B Corruption B Pilgrimage B Marvadi B Patronage |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | Reflecting India's national debate about corruption, in some instances the Kali Yuga, the present Hindu era, may be locally interpreted as an era of ambition for wealth. This study documents such a case in devotees' perceptions of patronage for B?l?j?, the presiding god of the village of S?l?sar in Rajasthan. Starting around twenty years ago urban merchants known as M?rv?d?s, who trace their ancestry to this region but who now live in cities throughout India, have publicly acclaimed B?l?j? as their lineage deity. Opinions about the support provided by better-off M?rv?d?s, considered "VIPs," divide along the lines of caste identity. In a time of pro-business governments, VIPs formally attribute their prosperity to B?l?j?'s protection, and have generously contributed to the development of the god's temple and pilgrimage infrastructure, which the temple's Br?hmans regard as a form of gratitude to the divine. However, some other devotees and locals look askance at VIP largesse, and allege that these patrons use their money to secure privileges and tax advantages in ways that are symptomatic of our current, degraded era. |
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| ISSN: | 2414-8636 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Nidān
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.58125/nidan.2014.1 |