On the Effects of Guru Avatars as Forces Encouraging Social Welfare Activism

Authors

Will Turner, The College of WoosterFollow

Abstract

Abstract

Will Turner

On the Effect of Guru Avatars as Forces Encouraging Social Welfare Activism

March 16^th, 2015

Advisor: Doctor Lisa Crothers

This paper examines guru avatars and how they effect their devotees’ participation in social welfare activities. I posit that guru avatars encourage their devotees to be active in service through their example, teachings and status as guru avatars. I look at this by studying the 19^th century guru avatar Sahajanand Swami, the major movements that are centered around him, and the modern guru avatar Sathya Sai Baba and the movement around him. I support my argument by analyzing how each is legitimated by their followers who do so by connecting them with gods and the divine, to established gurus and religious teachers, and Sahajanand and Sathya Sai’s experiences. Also, their religious teachings and how they are related to Hindu puja and prasad as well as the charitable services that both Sahajanand and Sathya Sai, and the movements around them participate in. Through this examination I hope to show how gurus due to their recently acquired authority and status push devotees to be active in social welfare activity.

Advisor

Crothers, Lisa

Department

Religious Studies

Recommended Citation

Turner, Will, "On the Effects of Guru Avatars as Forces Encouraging Social Welfare Activism" (2015). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 6541.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/6541

Disciplines

New Religious Movements

Publication Date

2015

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis