The ascetic, devotional sect of the Mahanubhavs -Those of the greatexperience - arose, like the much more popular bhakti movement ofthe Vårkaris centred in Pandharpur, in thirteenth century Maharastra.If in the beginning the Mahanubhavs had a fairly rapid expansion, especiallyin the northern and eastern regions of Maharastra, around theend of the fourteenth century their movement went underground aimingat a defensive isolation from the larger Hindü context. They centredthemselves in remote areas and villages. Although the prominentleaders among the early Mahanubhavs were brahma's (often convertsfrom the prevailing advaita vaißñavism), their followers were and aremostly non-brahma's, that is, low caste people and even untouchables.Outside of their own closed circles Mahanubhavs were met with prejudiceand distrust, at least up to the beginning of the twentieth century.In this volume the author offers an overview of the origins and mainreligious and doctrinal characteristics of the Mahanubhavs, discussingthose aspects which appear especially revealing of their differenceand nonconformity.
Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-0624-8520
Book Title
The Mahanubhavs
Authors
Antonio Rigopoulos
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
106
Publication Year
2005
Copyright Information
© 2005 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/8884532639
ISBN Print
8884532647
eISBN (pdf)
8884532639
eISBN (xml)
978-88-5518-812-8
Series Title
Studi e saggi
Series ISSN
2704-6478
Series E-ISSN
2704-5919