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Sacred Spaces: Exploring Traditions of Shared Faith in India: First Edition
Weaving together legend, history, ethnography & reminiscences with critical insights, 'Sacred Spaces' affords us a rare glimpse of religious traditions outside the mainstream. This rich legacy could well be invaluable in promoting alternate ways of understanding religion & the notion of community identity.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 6 reviews
April 11, 2018
The book is a travelogue of the various Sufi shrines across India, from the shrine of Ayyappa in Kerala to the shrine of Nund Rishi in Kashmir. Sikand highlights the various contestations in the narratives/stories about the shrine and changing nature of these Sufi shrines which were flag bearers of syncretic liminal traditions have under attack or appropriation by Hindu and Islamic religious groups.
March 2, 2023
The book gives you unique insights into the sufi traditions of India, some of them are famous others are lesser known. The author though is very biased and presents the stories in his own colour, once you read it you will know what colour that is. If you chose to ignore the inherent bias of the narrative this makes an enjoyable read and tells you about the attempt of various saints and spiritualists who tried to bring together two of the most important religions of the world.
October 31, 2023
A good book on interfaith interaction in history and at present.
Special useful in this time of religious polarisation and hatred.
Special useful in this time of religious polarisation and hatred.
April 7, 2015
“For millions of others in India, religion is a free-flowing river that meanders wherever it pleases, in search of peace and solace, or, more often, in a desperate quest for divine intervention to solve worldly woes.
Religion is a petulant subject in India and “Sacred Spaces” by Yoginder Sikand is an interesting book written for the unusual times we are going through today. The book talks about the Shared religious traditions of India between the Hindus, Muslims and Christians which are under constant siege from various factions of society. As someone who is very interested in ‘Sufism,’ this book is an eye opener of what the modern world has done to the treasure left by the benevolent Sufi’s. We journey with him to the temple of Ayappa in Sabrimala, which has been guarded by the Muslim Wavar’s. He takes us to the temple of the low caste goddess Elamma, who now has been given a Brahmin origin as it is not a good enterprise to promote an “Untouchable goddess”. We visit the church of the Sari clad “Mother Mary of Vailankanni” who benevolently watches over her flock offer idols and gifts to he for favors granted. He laments the conversion of the Qalandar master “Dada Hayat Qalandar” into ‘Swami Dattartrya” and other Sufi shrines who are now painted in saffron hues. The book is a guide to the Sufi shrines, temples & Churches dotted across obscure towns and small cities in the interiors of India and discovered how the centuries-old traditions changed under the guise of religion. The author has dug out the folklore and mythological stories associated with these places. He has spoken to saints, caretakers and worshipers to provide us an insight on what religion us done not only to our society but also to our Gods and Saints. I have loved reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about “Sufi Legends” and the legacy left behind by the men who became God.
Religion is a petulant subject in India and “Sacred Spaces” by Yoginder Sikand is an interesting book written for the unusual times we are going through today. The book talks about the Shared religious traditions of India between the Hindus, Muslims and Christians which are under constant siege from various factions of society. As someone who is very interested in ‘Sufism,’ this book is an eye opener of what the modern world has done to the treasure left by the benevolent Sufi’s. We journey with him to the temple of Ayappa in Sabrimala, which has been guarded by the Muslim Wavar’s. He takes us to the temple of the low caste goddess Elamma, who now has been given a Brahmin origin as it is not a good enterprise to promote an “Untouchable goddess”. We visit the church of the Sari clad “Mother Mary of Vailankanni” who benevolently watches over her flock offer idols and gifts to he for favors granted. He laments the conversion of the Qalandar master “Dada Hayat Qalandar” into ‘Swami Dattartrya” and other Sufi shrines who are now painted in saffron hues. The book is a guide to the Sufi shrines, temples & Churches dotted across obscure towns and small cities in the interiors of India and discovered how the centuries-old traditions changed under the guise of religion. The author has dug out the folklore and mythological stories associated with these places. He has spoken to saints, caretakers and worshipers to provide us an insight on what religion us done not only to our society but also to our Gods and Saints. I have loved reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about “Sufi Legends” and the legacy left behind by the men who became God.
June 4, 2015
About the invisible threads that hold India together.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 6 reviews