Outgrowth of the author's thesis (doctoral)--University of Technology, Sydney, 2019, under the title: 'The saints belong to everyone' : liminality, belief and practices in rural North India.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Between Muslim Pīr and Hindu Saint studies the changing form of religious culture around the bhakti figure and the religious order of Laldas that has undergone multiple transformations since its inception in the sixteenth century in the Mewat region of north India. The study uncovers the fascinating historical and contemporary dimensions of Hindu-Muslim socio-cultural interactions around his shrines. It explores reformist and extremist politics that influenced shared religious traditions, shedding light on the impact of the reformist ideologies of the Arya Samaj and Tablighi Jamaat on the followers of Laldas. It presents a compelling analysis of how some shared religious practices persist and adapt amidst the pressures of dominant reform movements, highlighting the resilience of faith and the strategies employed by believers to maintain their religious convictions. The inclusion of marginalised voices, particularly women maintaining their disagreements by concealing their faith in the saints and traditional bards expressing their righteous views through folk songs, adds a poignant and powerful dimension to the narrative. Through its comprehensive and thought-provoking approach, the book provides valuable insights into the continuously evolving religious landscape of north Indian devotional Hinduism and popular Islam"-- Provided by publisher.

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