Has Kalki Already Appeared as 'Ali? The Influence of Hindu Beliefs on the Nizari Ismaili Khojas: A Case Study of the Ginans

KUTLUTÜRK C.

JOURNAL OF SHIA ISLAMIC STUDIES, cilt.10, sa.1, ss.35-60, 2017 (AHCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 10 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2017
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1353/isl.2017.0001
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF SHIA ISLAMIC STUDIES
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ATLA Religion Database, Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Philosopher's Index
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.35-60
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Ginan, Hindu-Muslim interaction, India, imamah, Nizari Ismaili Khojas, Shi'a, syncretism
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The Historical Interaction of Hinduism and Islam since the seventh century has witnessed periods of cooperation and syncretism. In this sense the Khojas, who were the main representatives of Nizari Ismaili thought in India, are a unique model as they were influenced by Hindu customs and beliefs, particularly Vaishnava terminologies. For instance, the Hindu concept of Kalki avatara, the messianic tenth incarnation of Vishnu, renamed in this tradition as Nakalanki, 'the stainless one', was identified with 'Ali, the first Shiite Imam. Therefore, an attempt is made in this article to disclose the influence of Hindu terms and doctrines on the Nizari Khojas by focusing on their religious texts, Ginans, which were composed by dals, the so-called propagators of this sect. This paper also deals with the historical development of Khoja community in India where the second-largest Shi'a population in the world is located.