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

Session 1: South Asian Encounters, salle B.

10.00: Introduction by the organisers,

Chair: Carmen Spiers (Aix-Marseille Université)

10.10–11.00: Jason Birch (SOAS-EHESS), “Yogi-Sufi Interactions: The Textual Evidence for Cross-pollination”

11.00–11.20: Coffee-break

11.20–12.10: Raffaello De León-Jones Diani (EHESS-CESAH) “Muḥammad ibn Tuġluq and the yogis: courtly engagements and cultural exchanges in 14th century South Asia”

            Session 2: Beyond South Asia I, salle B.

12.10–13.00: Alberto Fabio Ambrosio (Luxembourg School of Religion & Society, Luxembourg), “Yogic Practices and Spiritualism in Ottoman Sufism”

13.00–14.30: Lunch break

Session 3: Beyond South Asia II, salle C

Chair: Damien Carriere (Aix-Marseille Université)

14.30–15.20: Raphaël Voix (CNRS-CESAH), “A Hindu Yogi in Mecca: Tales from Modern India”

15.20–16.10: Fabrizio Speziale (EHESS-CESAH), “From criminals to landowners: the Rāwal yogis in the age of transoceanic travels (1860s–1890s)”

16.10–16.30: Coffee-break

16.30–17.30: 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.

17.30–18.15: 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.

Webpage: http://www.perso-indica.net/events-news/65

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