Muslim encounters with yogis in South Asia and beyond

The Sixth Perso-Indica Workshop

 École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Marseille

Thursday 27^th, November 2025

Morning session: South Asian Encounters, 10.00–12.30, salle B.

10.00: Introduction by the organisers,

Chair: Carmen Spiers (Aix-Marseille Université)

10.05–11.05: Jason Birch (SOAS-EHESS), “Yogi-Sufi Interactions: The Textual Evidence for Cross-pollination”

11.05–11.25: Coffee-break

11.25–12.25: Raffaello De León-Jones Diani (EHESS-CESAH) “Muḥammad ibn Tuġluq and the yogis: courtly engagements and cultural exchanges in 14th century South Asia”

12.30–14.00: Lunch break

Afternoon session: Beyond South Asia, 14.00–18.00, salle C

Chair: Damien Carriere (Aix-Marseille Université)

14.00–15.00: Alberto Fabio Ambrosio (Luxembourg School of Religion & Society, Luxembourg), “Yogic Practices and Spiritualism in Ottoman Sufism”

15.00–16.00: Fabrizio Speziale (EHESS-CESAH), “From criminals to landowners: the Rāwal yogis in the age of transoceanic travels (1860s–1890s)”

16.00–16.20: Coffee-break

16.20–17.20: Workshop, Jason Birch, “Reading a Yogāsana in Sanskrit.” Monika Boehm-Tettelbach (Heidelberg University) will read the same passage from a Hindi version, and Carl W. Ernst will read from a Persian translation.

17.20–18.00: General discussion

Organizers: Raffaello De León-Jones Diani (EHESS-CESAH) and Fabrizio Speziale (EHESS-CESAH).

Venue: École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales/School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, Centre de la Vieille Charité, 2 rue de la Charité, Marseille, rooms B and C.

With the support of: Centre de recherche sur les circulations, les liens et les échanges (CeRCLEs) - Centre d'études sud-asiatiques et himalayennes (CESAH).