KOZHIKODE: “Those in power have used religion as a tool to establish their grip over the state’s rule,” according to Dr. Caleb Simmons, specialist in South-Asian religions and Assistant Professor at Religious Studies and Classics at University of Arizona. He was addressing the inaugural session of his lecture series at Calicut University on Monday on the theme ‘Methodology in Historical Research.’ Citing the example of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the Maharaja of Mysore between 1799 till 1868, he added that the king used religion to create a feeling of divinity in himself and his family among the subjects and tactically controlled and strengthened the state despite lacking military power.
Dr Simmons opined that scholars should focus on such specific areas
of studies and conduct research. “When we study history by taking a certain aspect, particularly religion, we can study from a different angle and perspective, including historical approaches, material culture, literature, arts history etc,” he said. Krishnaraja Wadiyar III of Mysore used religion to project his lineage which he traced to Maha Vishnu and made his sovereignty despite lacking military or administrative power. “He connected his lineage with important pilgrim cites in the region like Melkote, Nanjangoud and Chamundi Hillsand worshipped those deities,” he said.
“When we approach political history from a religious aspect, it would help us to understand the foundation on which they actually ruled,” he added. Dr. Caleb Simmons specialises in religion in South Asia, especially Hinduism and his research specialties span religion and state-formation in medieval and colonial India to contemporary transnational aspects of Hinduism. His current book project, ‘The King’s Devotion: Political Theology in Early Modern South India’ examines how the early modern court of Mysore re-envisioned the notions of kingship, territory and religion, especially through articulations of devotion.
