‘Ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadanti’ – Inclusivism – the Idea of a Reformed Hinduism in the Iconographic Program of the Birla Temples

Marta Kudelska; Agnieszka Staszczyk; Agata Świerzowska

‘Ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadanti’ – Inclusivism – the Idea of a Reformed Hinduism in the Iconographic Program of the Birla Temples

Publication date: 08.2021

Studia Religiologica, 2021, Volume 54 Issue 2, pp. 109 - 129

https://doi.org/10.4467/20844077SR.21.007.14198

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‘Ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadanti’ – Inclusivism – the Idea of a Reformed Hinduism in the Iconographic Program of the Birla Temples

Abstract

The fundraising activity initiated by the Birla family in India resulted in the construction of more than 20 Hindu temples, commonly referred to as the Birla Mandirs. Although they vary in terms of architectural forms and iconographic programs it seems, that one basic and common theme remains - to show reformed Hinduism as a religion that is the pillar of the identity of the people of New India. It is understood at the same time as separate but also higher than other great religions, yet assuring a place within its confines for all of them. It is – as the authors argue in this paper - the practical realization of the thought expressed in the Ṛgveda(I 164.46) and repeatedly referred to in the Birla temples as ‘ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadanti’, which seems to be the motto of all foundations of the Birla family.

Keywords

Advaita-Vedānta, Birla, inkluzywizm, Lakshmi Narayan, współczesny hinduizm, upaniszady, Śiva / Advaita-Vedānta, inclusivism, modern Hinduism, Upaniṣads, Śiva

Advaita-Vedānta, Birla, inclusivism, Lakshmi Narayan, modern Hinduism, Upaniṣads, Śiva

References

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Information

Information: Studia Religiologica, 2021, Volume 54 Issue 2, pp. 109 - 129

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4467/20844077SR.21.007.14198

Article type: Original article

Titles:

Polish:

‘Ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadanti’ – Inclusivism – the Idea of a Reformed Hinduism in the Iconographic Program of the Birla Temples

English:

‘Ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadanti’ – Inclusivism – the Idea of a Reformed Hinduism in the Iconographic Program of the Birla Temples

Authors

Marta Kudelska

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1684-0632

Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilisations of the Jagiellonian University, Grodzka 52 Street, 31-044 Krakow

Agnieszka Staszczyk

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5223-6969

Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilisation, Jagiellonian University in Kraków

Agata Świerzowska

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7696-1631

Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilisation, Jagiellonian University in Kraków

Published at: 08.2021

Article status: Open

Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Percentage share of authors:

Marta Kudelska (Author) - 33%

Agnieszka Staszczyk (Author) - 33%

Agata Świerzowska (Author) - 34%

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English

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