The ‘Inexhaustibility’ of Jalaram Bapa: Narrative, Presence and Social Service in the Hindu Diaspora

Wood, Martin ORCID: 0000-0002-9826-3452 (2018) The ‘Inexhaustibility’ of Jalaram Bapa: Narrative, Presence and Social Service in the Hindu Diaspora. Religions of South Asia, 12 (1). pp. 34-55. doi:10.1558/rosa.34319

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Abstract

Food miracles permeate the historical and contemporary Gujarati Hindu landscape, from the homeland to East Africa and throughout the wider diaspora. However, approaches to food miracles differ from one tradition to the next, and approaches to the divine or the saint can often have a direct impact upon a tradition’s ethical approach to wider society. This article considers food miracles as they are more widely understood in the Hindu context, especially in the Hindu diaspora, but with a specific focus on the Jalaram Bapa tradition. By engaging both spiritually and physically in this relationship, food miracles offer a direct and personal experience of Jalaram himself. Furthermore, this presence promotes an ethical framework that draws directly upon the narratives that speak of his life, namely that of seva for all, regardless of social status or religious background.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Food; Gujarat; Hinduism; Jalaram Bapa; Miracle; Seva
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Creative Arts
Research Priority Areas:	Culture, Continuity, and Transformation
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	11 Jan 2019 14:07
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 08:54
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/6330

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