Religious Legitimacy and Politics in 惭补丑腻谤腻箩腻 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's Era
Journal name: Acta Orientalia
Original article title: Horstmann, Monika, Der Zusammenhalt der Welt. Religi枚se Herrschaftslegitimation und Religionspolitik 惭补丑腻谤腻箩腻 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisinghs (1700鈥�1743).
ACTA ORIENTALIA is a journal focused on the study of Oriental languages, history, archaeology, and religions from ancient times to the present. The journal includes articles reviewed by a senior scholar in the relevant field.
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Angelika Malinar
Acta Orientalia:
(Founded in 1922 and published annually)
Full text available for: Horstmann, Monika, Der Zusammenhalt der Welt. Religi枚se Herrschaftslegitimation und Religionspolitik 惭补丑腻谤腻箩腻 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisinghs (1700鈥�1743).
Year: 2010 | Doi: 10.5617/ao.7341
Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0
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Summary of article contents:
1) Introduction
Monika Horstmann's book, Der Zusammenhalt der Welt: Religi枚se Herrschaftslegitimation und Religionspolitik 惭补丑腻谤腻箩腻 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisinghs (1700鈥�1743), delves into the intricate interplay between religious politics and royal power in 18th-century North India, particularly within the Kachv膩ha dynasty. The work is positioned within a growing scholarly interest in the role of religious communities during this fragmented historical period. Horstmann builds upon foundational studies by other historians to provide a detailed exploration of how religious legitimacy was intertwined with the perception and governance of power, significantly focusing on King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh鈥檚 theological engagements.
2) Vedic Renaissance and Religious Politics
A central theme in Horstmann's analysis is the concept of a "Vedic renaissance," particularly through the lens of King Jaisingh鈥檚 attempts to legitimize and revitalize his rule by merging Vedic traditions with the practices of the 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 community. The book discusses how Jaisingh sought to assert the importance of dharma (righteousness) and Vedic rituals in his kingship, often drawing parallels with the illustrious Maratha king 艢iv膩j墨. By endorsing Vedic practices and influencing theological debates among Gau岣嵞珁a 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补s, Jaisingh aimed to position himself as a model Hindu king who would guide the community through a revival of ancient traditions.
3) Theological Disputes and Court Politics
Horstmann also examines the complex theological disputes within the Gau岣嵞珁a 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 community, focusing on 碍峁涐梗峁嘺诲别惫补 Bha峁弓膩c膩rya, a key figure engaged in resolving these conflicts at the behest of Jaisingh. The book highlights how these theological contentions and the king's endorsement of specific rituals played a role in shaping a cohesive religious identity. The engagement with the 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 order extended beyond ideology, as Jaisingh issued orders for the integration of Vedic rituals into the religious practices of his time, reflecting an ambitious project aimed at fostering a unified Hindu identity.
4) Conclusion
In conclusion, Horstmann鈥檚 monograph stands as a significant contribution to the understanding of religious legitimacy and political authority in early modern India. The author not only presents meticulously edited texts but also enriches the discourse on the complexities of religious politics in a pluralistic environment. While the work adeptly outlines the theological and political maneuvers within the Kachv膩ha court, it gestures towards the need for further studies that include the perspectives of those outside the dominant religious dialogues initiated by the ruling class. This future exploration could provide a more comprehensive view of the religious and social dynamics of the time.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What is the main focus of Horstmann's book?
Horstmann's book examines religious politics and theological disputes in the Kachv膩ha dynasty, particularly during King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's reign, highlighting the role of religious communities and the concept of religious legitimation of royal power.
What time period does the book cover concerning North Indian kingdoms?
The book focuses on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a time when religious politics and theological conflicts were significant in the fragmented political landscape of North Indian Hindu kingdoms.
What are some key themes addressed in the book?
Key themes include theological disputes, the relationship between religious communities and the ruling dynasty, Jaisingh's attempts to revitalize Vedic traditions, and his broader project of a 'Vedic renaissance' within Hinduism.
How does Horstmann connect Jaisingh's religious politics to historical figures?
Horstmann draws parallels between Jaisingh's approach and the self-representation of Maratha king 艢iv膩j墨, particularly in terms of promoting Vedic rituals and the integration of different religious practices within the 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 tradition.
What is the significance of the terms 'lokasa峁僩raha' and Jaisingh's kingship?
'Lokasa峁僩raha,' meaning coherence of the world, relates to Jaisingh's political program, where he aspires to embody the model of duty and ritual action as described in the 叠丑补驳补惫补诲驳墨迟腻, reflecting the essential role of kingship in Vedic thought.
Glossary definitions and references:
Oriental and Historical glossary list for 鈥淩eligious Legitimacy and Politics in 惭补丑腻谤腻箩腻 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's Era鈥�. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of History, Linguistics, Religion, Philosophy, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism etc.
1) Veda:
The term 'Vedic' pertains to the rituals and traditions originating from the Vedas, which King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh attempted to integrate into the 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 practices to establish 'Vedic 痴颈峁ａ箛耻ism' as a part of his religious politics [see source text or glossary: Vedic].
2) Book:
The term 'book' refers to Monika Horstmann's work titled 'Der Zusammenhalt der Welt', which delves into the religious and political landscape of the 18th century North Indian Hindu kingdom under 惭补丑腻谤腻箩腻 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's rule [see source text or glossary: Book].
3) Vaishnava (Vaisnava):
痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 signifies followers of 痴颈峁ａ箛耻, and the book discusses 惭补丑腻谤腻箩腻 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's efforts to mediate 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 practices with Vedic rituals, thereby ensuring that 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 communities adhered to Vedic and 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补 prescriptions [see source text or glossary: 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补].
4) King:
King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh, who ruled the Kachv膩ha dynasty, is the central figure in the book, exploring his religious politics and engagement with 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 and Vedic traditions to establish legitimacy and coherence of the world [see source text or glossary: King].
5) Politics:
The book explores the intricate 'religious politics' of King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh, focusing on how his theological engagements and endorsement of Vedic rituals were politically motivated to enhance his legitimacy and rule [see source text or glossary: Politics].
6) Brahmin:
Brahmins played a crucial role in executing the king鈥檚 religious and ritualistic reforms, with specific Brahmins like Harek峁涐梗峁嘺 惭颈艣谤补 authoring key ritual manuals to align 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 practices with Vedic traditions [see source text or glossary: Brahmin].
7) Bhakti:
Bhakti, or devotional worship, is juxtaposed against the Vedic ritual model in the book. King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's policies blended bhakti elements within 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 communities with Vedic rites, thereby creating a unique theological and political landscape [see source text or glossary: Bhakti].
8) Vedic ritual:
Vedic rituals such as the horse sacrifice were revived and emphasized by King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh to reflect his vision of a 'Vedic renaissance,' aiming to integrate them with 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 practices and thereby legitimize his rule [see source text or glossary: Vedic ritual].
9) Practice:
The term 'practice' refers to the ritualistic and religious practices that were reshaped under King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh, including the observance of ek膩da艣i and performance of 艣r膩ddha in alignment with Vedic prescriptions [see source text or glossary: Practice].
10) Court:
The 'court' of King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh was a central hub for religious and political activity, where theologians and Brahmins debated, authored texts, and established new religious guidelines under the king's direction [see source text or glossary: Court].
11) Savai:
厂补惫腻墨 refers to King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh of the Kachv膩ha dynasty, who ruled from 1700-1743 and is the central figure in Horstmann鈥檚 book, depicted as a monarch deeply invested in religious reforms and ritualistic legitimization of his rule [see source text or glossary: 厂补惫腻墨].
12) Gaudiyavaishnava (Gaudiyavaisnava, Gaudiya-vaishnava):
The 骋补耻岣嵞珁补-惫补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 refers to the 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 communities that followed the teachings of Lord Chaitanya. King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's interactions and disputes with Gau岣嵞珁a 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补s are explored to highlight the religious dynamics of his reign [see source text or glossary: 骋补耻岣嵞珁补-惫补颈峁ａ箛补惫补].
13) Bhagavad-gita (Bhagavadgita, Bhagavat-gita):
The concept of 'lokasa峁僩raha' from the 叠丑补驳补惫补诲驳墨迟腻, signifying the coherence of the world via the performance of one鈥檚 duties, is critical in the book for understanding King Jaisingh's theological perspective and political program [see source text or glossary: 叠丑补驳补惫补诲驳墨迟腻].
14) Dynasty:
Dynasty refers to the Kachv膩ha dynasty, under which King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh ruled. The historical backdrop of this dynasty provides context for the religious and political changes implemented by Jaisingh [see source text or glossary: Dynasty].
15) Future:
[see source text or glossary: Future]
16) Horse:
The horse is central to the Vedic horse sacrifices (a艣vamedha) that King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh performed, which were significant for their ritualistic and political implications in showcasing his dedication to Vedic traditions [see source text or glossary: Horse].
17) Power:
The term 'power' refers to the religious and political authority King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh sought to consolidate through the religious legitimation of his rule by endorsing and integrating Vedic rituals and 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 practices [see source text or glossary: Power].
18) Cult:
Cult refers to the specific forms of devotion, such as the Kalki and 痴补谤补诲补谤腻箩补 cults, which King Jaisingh engaged with as part of his broader religious politics to align with bhakti and Vedic traditions [see source text or glossary: Cult].
19) Five deities:
The worship of 'five deities' (pa帽c膩yatana) pertains to a practice observed by the 蝉尘腻谤迟补 Brahmins, tying into the broader framework of Vedic rituals endorsed by King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh [see source text or glossary: Five deities].
20) Sampradaya:
厂补尘辫谤补诲腻测补 refers to religious traditions or communities. The book discusses how Jaisingh mediated the ritual practices of different 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 samprad膩yas with Vedic traditions to standardize religious norms [see source text or glossary: 厂补尘辫谤补诲腻测补].
21) Krishnadeva (Krsnadeva):
碍峁涐梗峁嘺诲别惫补 Bha峁弓膩c膩rya was a significant Gau岣嵞珁a 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 theologian who authored vital treatises during King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's reign, contributing to the theological debates and reforms initiated by the king [see source text or glossary: 碍峁涐梗峁嘺诲别惫补].
22) Sacrifice:
Sacrifice, especially the Vedic horse sacrifice (a艣vamedha), was a critical ritual reintroduced by King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh to legitimize his rule and underscore his commitment to the Vedic tradition [see source text or glossary: Sacrifice].
23) Theology:
Theology refers to the religious doctrines and debates central to King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's court, including treatises like Karmaviv峁泃i and Vaidikavai峁ａ箛av膩c膩ra, which articulated the theological basis for his religious reforms [see source text or glossary: Theology].
24) Avatara (Avatar):
础惫补迟腻谤补 refers to divine incarnations. The book connects Jaisingh鈥檚 religious politics to the worship of Kalkin, the future avat膩ra of 痴颈峁ａ箛耻, aligning his rule with divine legitimacy [see source text or glossary: 础惫补迟腻谤补].
25) Deity (Deities):
[see source text or glossary: Deity]
26) Worship:
Worship practices were a focal point of religious reforms under King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh, who sought to align the worship rituals of 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 communities with Vedic prescriptions, thus standardizing religious observance [see source text or glossary: Worship].
27) Indian:
Indian refers to the broader regional and historical context within which the book is situated, focusing on North Indian Hindu kingdoms and their religious and political landscapes during the 18th century [see source text or glossary: Indian].
28) India:
'India' provides the geographical and cultural context within which the Kachv膩ha dynasty and its religious-political activities under King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh are examined [see source text or glossary: India].
29) Dharmashastra (Dharma-shastra, Dharmasastra):
顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补 texts, which detail social and ritual duties (dharma), were of great significance in Jaisingh's religious reforms, guiding the integration of Vedic prescriptions into everyday 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 practices [see source text or glossary: 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补].
30) Niryogakshema (Niryogaksema, Nir-yogakshema):
[see source text or glossary: 狈颈谤测辞驳补办峁尘补]
31) Arthashastra (Arthasastra, Artha-shastra):
础谤迟丑补艣腻蝉迟谤补 is a classical Indian text on polity and economics, referenced in the book to elucidate certain royal functions and contexts dealing with the acquisition and sustenance of goods and power [see source text or glossary: 础谤迟丑补艣腻蝉迟谤补].
32) Pancayatana (Pamcayatana):
笔补帽肠腻测补迟补苍补 is the practice of worshipping five deities, representing a Vedic ritual tradition that King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh invoked as part of his religious reforms to align 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 rituals with Vedic norms [see source text or glossary: 笔补帽肠腻测补迟补苍补].
33) Varadaraja:
The cult of 痴补谤补诲补谤腻箩补 is mentioned in connection with Jaisingh鈥檚 religious politics, linking the worship of this deity to the broader bhakti and Vedic reforms undertaken during his reign [see source text or glossary: 痴补谤补诲补谤腻箩补].
34) Pancaratra (Panca-ratra, Pancan-ratra, Pamcaratra):
笔腻帽肠补谤腻迟谤补 traditions involve specific theological and ritual classifications within Vai峁ａ箛avism that Jaisingh's reforms had to navigate, including concepts such as ta峁璦stha-bhakti [see source text or glossary: 笔腻帽肠补谤腻迟谤补].
35) Perception:
The perception of King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's rule as the embodiment of 'lokasa峁僩raha' (coherence of the world) played a pivotal role in his political and religious self-representation [see source text or glossary: Perception].
36) Coronation:
The coronation of figures like 艢iv膩j墨 and the subsequent comparison with Jaisingh鈥檚 rituals underscore the book's examination of royal legitimation and religious politics [see source text or glossary: Coronation].
37) Liberation:
Liberation, in the context of ascetic ideas and new doctrines of bhakti, is explored to understand Jaisingh's theological narrative that included the performance of duties and mediation of Vedic and ascetic concepts [see source text or glossary: Liberation].
38) Observance:
The term 'observance' refers to the ritual practices like ek膩da艣i and 艣r膩ddha, whose proper observance according to Vedic and 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补 texts was mandated by King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh [see source text or glossary: Observance].
39) Ashvamedha (Asvamedha, Ashva-medha):
础艣惫补尘别诲丑补, or Vedic horse sacrifice, was revived by King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh as a significant ritual to legitimize his rule and underscore his connection to Vedic traditions [see source text or glossary: 础艣惫补尘别诲丑补].
40) Karnataka:
碍补谤峁嚹佱弓补办补 refers to the region where Harek峁涐梗峁嘺 惭颈艣谤补, a Brahmin and key court theologian of King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh, hailed from [see source text or glossary: 碍补谤峁嚹佱弓补办补].
41) Rajasthan:
Rajasthan provides the geographical context of the Kachv膩ha dynasty ruled by King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh, within which the religious and political activities discussed in the book take place [see source text or glossary: Rajasthan].
42) Shivaratri (Shiva-ratri, Sivaratri):
艢颈惫补谤腻迟谤颈 is a Hindu festival mentioned in the book for its religious significance and observance by Brahmins, reflecting on the interconnectedness of various Hindu traditions under Jaisingh鈥檚 rule [see source text or glossary: 艢颈惫补谤腻迟谤颈].
43) Yogakshema (Yogaksema, Yoga-kshema):
[see source text or glossary: 驰辞驳补办峁尘补]
44) Scripture:
'Scripture' refers to religious texts like Vedas, 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补s, and theological treatises that King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh relied on to implement and standardize his religious reforms [see source text or glossary: Scripture].
45) Maharaja (Maha-rajan, Maharajan, Maha-raja):
惭补丑腻谤腻箩腻 refers to King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh, the central figure of Horstmann's book, who sought religious and political legitimacy through complex theological and ritual engagements [see source text or glossary: 惭补丑腻谤腻箩腻].
46) Abhakta:
[see source text or glossary: A-bhakta]
47) Branch (Branches):
[see source text or glossary: Branches]
48) Bhagavat (Bhagavan):
叠丑补驳补惫腻苍, meaning 'god', comes into play in theological discussions in the book, especially regarding the healing, worldly power, and doctrinal frameworks established by King Jaisingh鈥檚 religious policies [see source text or glossary: 叠丑补驳补惫腻苍].
49) Doctrine:
Doctrine refers to the theological principles discussed in the book, such as Vedic 痴颈峁ａ箛耻ism initiated by King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh, consolidating various ritualistic and theological frameworks to legitimize his rule [see source text or glossary: Doctrine].
50) Religion:
Religion is central to the book, exploring how King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh's religious politics, theological disputes, and reformative practices shaped the religious landscape of his time and legitimized his rule [see source text or glossary: Religion].
51) Darkness:
[see source text or glossary: Darkness]
52) Fraction:
[see source text or glossary: Fraction]
53) Shraddha (Sraddha):
艢谤腻诲诲丑补 refers to the Vedic ancestral rite, which had to be harmonized with 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 fasting practices like ek膩da艣i under King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh鈥檚 religious reforms [see source text or glossary: 艢谤腻诲诲丑补].
54) Bhavani:
叠丑补惫腻苍墨 is a goddess whose cult under 艢iv膩j墨 is mentioned to draw parallels with King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh鈥檚 religious reforms and his efforts to emulate 艢iv膩j墨鈥檚 model of Hindu kingship [see source text or glossary: 叠丑补惫腻苍墨].
55) Gujarat:
Gujarat is mentioned as a neighboring region connected to Jaisingh鈥檚 religious politics, sharing specific cult practices and royal worship traditions during the period under study [see source text or glossary: Gujarat].
56) Warrior:
Warrior ascetics and their role in the religious landscape of the 18th century North Indian Hindu kingdoms are part of the broader context discussed in the book [see source text or glossary: Warrior].
57) Worldly:
[see source text or glossary: Worldly]
58) Dharma:
Dharma, meaning 'correct behavior' and 'duties', was central to the theological discourse under King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh, who endorsed the dharma detailed in 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补 texts to standardize 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 practices [see source text or glossary: Dharma].
59) Shrauta (Srauta):
艢谤补耻迟补 rituals are Vedic ceremonies still practiced by some Brahmins, forming part of the ritualistic framework that King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh sought to rejuvenate and integrate into 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 practices [see source text or glossary: 艢谤补耻迟补].
60) Bhakta:
[see source text or glossary: Bhakta]
61) Smarta:
The term '蝉尘腻谤迟补' refers to a group of Brahmins who follow a syncretic tradition worshipping five deities (pa帽c膩yatana), playing a role in the Vedic ritual reforms under King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh [see source text or glossary: Sm膩rta].
62) Kalkin:
Kalkin, the future avat膩ra of 痴颈峁ａ箛耻, is discussed in the book to show how King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh鈥檚 religious politics and worship practices aimed to align with this eschatological figure [see source text or glossary: Kalkin].
63) Mishra (Misra):
惭颈艣谤补 refers to Harek峁涐梗峁嘺 惭颈艣谤补, a pivotal court theologian who authored the Vaidikavai峁ａ箛av膩c膩ra under King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh鈥檚 orders, establishing ritual manuals harmonizing Vedic and 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 practices [see source text or glossary: 惭颈艣谤补].
64) Vishnu (Visnu):
痴颈峁ａ箛耻 is the primary deity of the 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 tradition, and King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh鈥檚 religious reforms aimed to propagate a 'Vedic 痴颈峁ａ箛耻ism', integrating Vedic rites and 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 worship under his rule [see source text or glossary: 痴颈峁ａ箛耻].
65) Shaiva (Saiva):
艢补颈惫补 refers to followers of 艢iva, with conflicts between 艢补颈惫补 and 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 communities forming part of the broader religious and political narrative examined in Horstmann鈥檚 book [see source text or glossary: 艢补颈惫补].
66) Kalki:
Kalki, the eschatological avat膩ra of 痴颈峁ａ箛耻, is tied to King 厂补惫腻墨 Jaisingh鈥檚 religious politics where his worship connects with broader themes of divine legitimacy and future-focused religious narratives [see source text or glossary: Kalki].
67) Depth:
[see source text or glossary: Depth]
68) Light:
[see source text or glossary: Light]
69) Hari (Harin):
[see source text or glossary: Hari]
70) Yoga:
[see source text or glossary: Yoga]