'Guru' Culture in South Asia: The Case of Chinmaya Mission in India. (July 2016)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- 'Guru' Culture in South Asia: The Case of Chinmaya Mission in India. (July 2016)
- Main Title:
- 'Guru' Culture in South Asia: The Case of Chinmaya Mission in India
- Authors:
- Pandya, Samta P.
- Abstract:
- Abstract: Guru culture is a prominent phenomenon in contemporary South Asia. The guru is a charismatic figure and the bedrock of the concerned institution, which very often assumes the form of a movement. Recognition of the power of that charisma is the central aspect in the social and psychological dynamics of guru-led movements. They attract a large number of followers and social service engagements are a part of their common repertoire, reflecting and furthering the guru's multiple societal entanglements. In this article, I focus on a prominent guru movement which originated in India, the Chinmaya Mission (CM), specifically with respect to its basic character and its interface with the Indian sociocultural fabric through compelling praxis, which I schematise through dimensions of its unique philosophical repertoire, sociality and habitus. Sociality in practice for CM is its mandate of social service. Social service is justified through the faith ideals. Habitus is generated by the Mission's associates as an unconscious formation. Both sociality and habitus of the CM movement make a case for the resurgence of religion and the postsecular in Indian public discourse.
- Is Part Of:
- Society and culture in South Asia. Volume 2:Number 2(2016:Jul.)
- Journal:
- Society and culture in South Asia
- Issue:
- Volume 2:Number 2(2016:Jul.)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 2, Issue 2 (2016)
- Year:
- 2016
- Volume:
- 2
- Issue:
- 2
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2016-0002-0002-0000
- Page Start:
- 204
- Page End:
- 232
- Publication Date:
- 2016-07
- Subjects:
- Gurus -- guru culture -- guru organisations -- Chinmaya Mission -- sociality -- habitus
Sociology -- South Asia -- Periodicals
Ethnology -- South Asia -- Periodicals
South Asia -- Social life and customs -- Periodicals
South Asia -- Social conditions -- Periodicals
301.095405 - Journal URLs:
- http://scs.sagepub.com/ ↗
http://www.uk.sagepub.com ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1177/2393861716642388 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 2393-8617
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 7232.xml