The Swaminarayan Sect: Contested Reforms

Abstract

The Swaminarayan sect arose in Gujarat in the nineteenth century with a distinct agenda of social reform. The sect carried out a sustained campaign against female infanticide and sati. However, the religious superstructure was made extremely rigid by imposing strict regulations on its followers. The supremacy of the Hindu shastras was left virtually unchallenged. The sect found succour within the habitation of Hinduism. This paper argues that the constitution of the Swaminarayan subject is highly masculine, docile and submissive to ritual authority, while simultaneously sacramentally excluding women, dalits and tribals within its ranks. In addition, the sect facilitated the emergence of the religious subject in Gujarat. Though the sect has been divided into various groups, this paper focuses on the entire sect as the ideological universe is similar.