Presence in Absence: The Formation of Reliquary Shiʿism in Qutb Shahi Hyderabad

Relics emerged as pivotal elements in shaping Shiʿi religious material culture during the Qutb Shahi period (1518–1687 CE), facilitating a unique 'presence in absence' of revered saints and Imams. This study reveals how such objects, including tomb replicas, battle standards, and votive talismans, transcended their Persianate origins to become integral to the Deccan region's diverse religious and ethnic landscape. The research demonstrates that Qutb Shahi sultans played a key role in translating Shiʿism into an Indic-Deccani idiom through indigenization processes that integrated ritual, literary, architectural, and reliquary practices. These adaptations fostered mutual intelligibility among Hindu and Muslim communities, illustrating the dynamic interplay between religious tradition and local cultural contexts.

Ruffle, K. G. (2017). Presence in Absence: The Formation of Reliquary Shiʿism in Qutb Shahi Hyderabad. Material Religion, 13(3), 329–353. https://doi.org/10.1080/17432200.2017.1335972