Contents: Foreword. Introduction. I. Nizari Ismailism and the Nizar Panth: 1. The Ismailis in the Indian subcontinent: exchanges and confrontations. 2. Ramdev and other Rajput Pirs: the Nizari Dawa in Rajasthan. 3. Hindu and Muslim Pirs: the community fragmented. 4. Hymns and rituals : a comparative study of the Nizarpanthi and Khoja religious literatures and ceremonies. 5. Ismailism and the Harijans. II. Other forgotten branches of Ismailism: secession and dissidence: 6. Ai Mata and the Ai Panth of Bilara. 7. Jambha Pir, the Prahladvanshis and the Bishnoi Panth. 8. Jasnath, the Siddhs and the Jasnathi Sampraday. 9. The Nizari Dawa and the Nath Sampraday. 10. Ram and Rahim: Nizari Ismailism and the Sant Parampara. Conclusion. Bibliography. Indexes.

"Using a combination of ethnographic data based on the description of shrines and rituals and of popular literature, this book seeks to investigate Hindu ‘folk’ traditions in Rajasthan (especially cults associated with Ramdev, Jambha, Jasnath, Ai Mata), where the presence of Muslim elements is conspicuous. The author reaches the conclusion that the followers of these cults had originally been converted to Ismailism during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries by missionaries acting under the direction of the central Ismaili dawa in the Multan region.

"With the decline of that central authority from the fifteenth century onwards, such communities apparently broke away from the parent body and came under the control of various Pirs and Gurus, whilst at the same time interacting with other religious groups such as the Nath Jogis and the Sants. Although they retain traces of their former Ismaili affiliation, these communities have in modern times come under increasing pressure to either adopt a more conventional Hindu identity or assimilate to Sunni or Twelver Shia Islam.

"In short, the study opens up new research prospects which are likely to alter the general landscape of its major themes: Rajasthan, popular religion, Ismailism and beyond." (jacket)