BARAKA BODIES: PRESENCE, ABSENCE,AND OBJECT AGENCY IN SOUTH ASIAN SHIʿI MATERIALITY

“BARAKA BODIES: PRESENCE, ABSENCE, AND OBJECT AGENCY IN SOUTH ASIAN SHIʿI MATERIALITY” Karen Ruffle, University of Toronto Wednesday, October 12th, 12:30pm EDT Silsila Fall 2022 Series, Body and Senses Anthropomorphic panjah, Qutb Shahi ʿAshurkhanah, Golconda, Hyderabad. Photo by Karen Ruffle, 2015. Shiʿi image-objects capable of engaging in the production of acts such as taʿziyas (replicas of Imam Husain’s Karbala shrine-tomb), ʿalams (metal standards representing the Imams or family of the Prophet Muhammad, the Ahl-e Bait), tabuts (coffin replicas), jhulas (the cradle of Husain’s infant son ʿAli Asghar), and Husain’s battle horse Zuljanah are visual images that stimulate acts of religious seeing for South Asian Shiʿa. They make present the absent Imams and Ahl-e Bait. As forms of Shiʿi materiality, image-objects such as the taʿziya and ʿalam, are focal objects promoting reciprocal visual exchange that creates cultural memory and social interaction. Reciprocity of the gaze establishes image-objects such as taʿziyas and ʿalams as manipulated resemblances (shabih) of the sacred individuals they represent. Through acts of reciprocal gazing, the image-object is transformed from object to subject, endowed with agency to work miracles, to intercede for devotees, and to hear devotees’ prayers. Taʿziyas and ʿalams have structural forms, symbolic and representational motifs that generate culturally specific practices of visual exchange, producing presence through Islamically-defined forms of embodiment, particularly baraka transfer. Presence and absence are brought forth enacting object agency through rituals such as vow-making, praying, and giving offerings—which are inter-personal and relational—performed between a devotee and an ʿalam or taʿziya.Karen Ruffle is Professor of South Asian Islam in the Departments of Historical Studies and Study of Religion at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on devotional texts, ritual practice, and Shiʿi material practices in South Asia. Among her publications are Everyday Shiʿism in South Asia (2021) and Gender, Sainthood, and Everyday Practice in South Asian Shi’ism (2011). Her current projects include a monograph titled, Building the City of Haider: Kingship, Urban Space, and Shiʿi Ritual in Hyderabad, India, as well as a large-scale study of South Asian Shiʿi material culture and sensorial practices titled, Baraka Bodies: Shiʿi Materiality, the Sensorium, and Ritual in India and Pakistan.  Date: Wednesday, October 12th Time: 12:30-2:30pm Location: Online This event will take place as a live Webinar at 12:30pm EDT (New York time). To register as an attendee, please use the following link: https://nyu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pNecegpYQY-hfqAFeKquCw Only registered attendees will be able to access this event.  Silsila: Center for Material Histories is an NYU center dedicated to material histories of the Islamicate world. Each semester we hold a thematic series of lectures and workshops, which are open to the public. Details of the Center can be found at: http://as.nyu.edu/content/nyu-as/as/research-centers/silsila.htmlCopyright © 2022 NYU Silsila, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.