ABSTRACT
South Asian American (SAA) identities are interwoven with spiritual practices that are often passed down through ancestral folklore that have withstood historical erasure from centuries of oppression by organized religion and colonialist practices. This chapter provides a brief overview of the varying religious-cultural practices that bond SAA while celebrating the uniqueness of each region and locale and provides insight around varying religions practiced by SAA, including influence from religious figures who often serve as advisors and counselors. It focuses on a case of the Sharma family to highlight interpersonal family systems as it relates to the practice of intergenerational transmission of religious beliefs. For most SAA, Hinduism is primarily based on their relationship to three core tenets of jnana, karma, and bhakti, and to their local deity that was worshiped by their ancestors. South Asia has the largest Muslim population in the world.
