A space to "eat, trance, and sleep": the healing power of Mahanubhav temples in Maharashtra (India)
This paper explores the effectiveness of religious healing by focusing on one important factor that has been much neglected - the stay within the shrine. Drawing on qualitative research in Mahanubhav temples in India, this paper emphasises that the central part of religious healing is the process of...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis
2015
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| In: |
Mental health, religion & culture
Year: 2015, Volume: 18, Issue: 3, Pages: 185-195 |
| Further subjects: | B
Mahanubhav
B Spirit Possession B Trance B healing shrines B Religious Conversion |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This paper explores the effectiveness of religious healing by focusing on one important factor that has been much neglected - the stay within the shrine. Drawing on qualitative research in Mahanubhav temples in India, this paper emphasises that the central part of religious healing is the process of being in the temple and becoming familiar with shrine culture. At the same time, I argue that the social space of the shrine is important not only for the benefits of a soothing environment or support system. It is argued that temporary residence within the shrine enables individuals to develop long-term associations with the religious community and sect. Through discussion of indicative cases, this paper elaborates on the process of "becoming a Mahanubhav pilgrim" that is at the heart of temple healing practices in India. |
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| ISSN: | 1469-9737 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Mental health, religion & culture
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2015.1031097 |