ABSTRACT

The Aga Khans have long played a prominent part on the international stage, but much less tends to be understood about the most important group of their followers, the Khoja Ismailis of South Asia, who are now also settled in many other parts of the world. Even less is generally known about the hymns, called ginans, which have historically formed so central an element in the religious life and rituals of the Ismaili community. The principal aim of this anthology is to fill this gap by providing a sympathetic introduction to this still largely unexplored tradition of South Asian devotional literature, and to draw attention to the many features of remarkable interest which it contains.

part 1|56 pages

Introduction

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chapter 1|31 pages

Part I: Ismailism in South Asia and the Ginans

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chapter 2|23 pages

Part II: Script and Language

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part 2|81 pages

Texts and Translations

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chapter 3|20 pages

Hymns of Instruction

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chapter 4|12 pages

Ritual Hymns

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chapter 5|12 pages

Devotional Hymns

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chapter 6|18 pages

The Cosmic Cycle

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chapter 7|18 pages

Tales of the Mission

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