THE RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS OF INDIA: SOURCES AND PRACTICES

The course "The Religious Traditions of India: Sources and Practices" is one of the core courses of the Master's degree programme and is designed to provide students with the theoretical and methodological tools required for the academic study of the major religious traditions of India, with particular attention to their historical development, textual sources, and religious practices. No previous background in South Asian studies is required, as the course aims to offer a solid introduction to the principal themes and approaches that characterize the academic study of the religions of South Asia.

The primary objective of the course is to examine the historical development of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Islam in the Indian subcontinent through the analysis of their principal textual sources and the ritual, devotional, and social practices that have shaped these traditions over time. Particular attention will be devoted to religious texts, interpretative traditions, religious institutions, places of worship and pilgrimage, as well as to the processes of transmission, continuity, and transformation that have characterized these traditions throughout history. The course will also explore the relationships between religion, society, and politics, the construction of religious identities, and the interactions among different religious communities, enabling students to develop a critical understanding of primary sources and of the historical and contemporary religious landscape of South Asia.

Attendance and independent study will enable students to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. Knowledge and understanding
Acquire knowledge of the historical development of the major religious traditions of India, with particular reference to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Islam in the Indian subcontinent;
Gain familiarity with the principal textual, ritual, and material sources of these religious traditions and understand their role in the transmission and transformation of South Asia's religious heritage;
Understand the main religious concepts, practices, and methodological approaches employed in the academic study of the religions of India.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
Critically analyse different types of sources (textual, iconographic, epigraphic, and ethnographic) by placing them within their historical, religious, and cultural contexts;
Compare the major religious traditions of India, identifying similarities, differences, and processes of interaction and mutual influence;
Apply appropriate methodological tools to the interpretation of religious practices, institutions, and cultural phenomena in South Asia.

3. Communication skills
Present and discuss the principal themes related to the religious traditions of India clearly and accurately, using appropriate academic terminology;
Critically engage with primary sources and scholarly literature, developing well-structured and evidence-based arguments.

No preliminar knowledge required.

The course provides an advanced introduction to the major religious traditions of India by examining their historical development, textual sources, and ritual, devotional, and social practices. Through the reading and discussion of selected primary sources in translation, complemented by scholarly literature, students will explore the processes through which religious traditions have emerged, evolved, and been transmitted across different historical periods. The course will examine Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, while also considering the historical and cultural significance of Islam and other religious communities within the Indian subcontinent. Particular attention will be devoted to the relationship between normative texts and lived religious practices, the dynamics of continuity and change, religious pluralism, and the interactions between religion, society, politics, and the construction of collective identities. Students will also be introduced to the principal methodological approaches to the academic study of South Asian religions, learning how to critically analyse literary, epigraphic, iconographic, and ethnographic sources in light of current scholarly debates. No previous background in South Asian studies is required, and the course is designed to provide students with the conceptual and methodological foundations necessary for the independent study of the religious traditions of India.

REQUIRED Reading

- Embree, Ainslie T. & Stephen N. Hay (eds.). 1988. Sources of Indian Tradition. Volume I. New York: Columbia University Press.
- Additional teaching materials (primary sources and scholarly articles) provided by the instructor during the course.

RECOMMENDED reading (for further study)

- Michaels, Axel. 2004. Hinduism: Past and Present. Translated by Barbara Harshav. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
- Harvey, Peter. 2013 (2nd ed.). An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Dundas, Paul. 2002 (2nd ed.). The Jains. London & New York: Routledge.
- McLeod, W. H. 1989. The Sikhs: History, Religion, and Society. New York: Columbia University Press.
- Green, Nile. 2006. Indian Sufism since the Seventeenth Century: Saints, Books and Empires in the Muslim Deccan. London & New York: Routledge.

Assessment will consist of two components: a written examination followed by an oral examination. The written examination will comprise 30 multiple-choice questions and 3 open-ended questions. The oral examination will consist of a short presentation by the student on a topic of their choice, provided that it falls within the scope of the course syllabus.

written and oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Regarding the grading scale, scores will be assigned according to the following schema:
A. Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of: Sufficient knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
B. Scores in the 23-26 range will be awarded in the presence of: Fair knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
C. Scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of: Good or excellent knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
D. Honors will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied comprehension of the program.

Teaching in classroom with Power-point presentation.