Globalization and Asceticism: Foreign Ascetics on the Threshold of Hindu Religious Orders

Bevilacqua, Daniela

Abstract

This chapter analyses the increasing presence of foreign ascetics in Hindu traditional ascetic orders. While in the middle of the 20th century the initiation of a foreigner into one of these orders was quite exceptional, today more and more gurus accept such disciples. This increased interest on the part of foreigners—and on the part of Indian gurus—results from the new possibilities of cultural and religious exchange offered by globalization as well as a revolution in travel and communication. Together, these have allowed individuals to overcome strict identities. The chapter provides ethnographic sketches of foreign ascetics in order to illuminate the changes occurring in traditional ascetic orders, here categorized as Modern Hindu Traditionalism. A comparison with Neo-Hinduism will be presented to stress similarities and differences and to trace a comprehensive outline of the ascetic side of contemporary Hinduism.

Citation

Bevilacqua, D. (2020). Globalization and Asceticism: Foreign Ascetics on the Threshold of Hindu Religious Orders. In J. Cornelio, F. Gauthier, T. Martikainen, & L. Woodhead (Eds.), Routledge International Handbook of Religion in Global Society. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315646435-16

• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jul 30, 2018
• Publisher: Routledge
• Book Title: Routledge International Handbook of Religion in Global Society
• ISBN: 9781138182509
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315646435-16