Religion’s impact on society cannot be overestimated. In the multireligious country of India, it is prevalent in the micro-level interactions and practices of commoners and the macro-level strategies and policies of political parties. Religion thus holds power to make or break societal structures and practices. This article investigates the role of religion in the lives of widows living in Vrindavan, India, by analyzing 37 narratives. Religion was found to have a dual role. Through the sociological lens, it is among the major reasons for these widows’ marginalized and dejected condition, having been abandoned by their families and society. The sociological themes comprise interpreting the doctrine of karma to rationalize widowhood, the formation of negative attitudes toward widows, and religion as a source of exclusion. Conversely, through the psychological lens, religion provides them with the necessary psychological resources to cope with several hardships in their daily lives. The psychological themes comprise seeing misery as an instrument of God, developing a personal connection with God, surrendering to God, using religious rituals as distractions from misery, helping others, and conceptualizing Vrindavan as a place of Krishna and enabler of spiritual retreat. The linkages to theory and a model for religion in the lives of Vrindavan widows are also discussed.

中文翻译：

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印度教寡妇生活中的宗教：来自印度温达文的叙述。

宗教对社会的影响怎么估计都不过分。在印度这个多宗教的国家，它普遍存在于平民的微观互动和实践以及政党的宏观战略和政策中。因此，宗教拥有决定社会结构和实践的力量。本文通过分析 37 个叙述来调查宗教在印度温达文寡妇生活中的作用。宗教被发现具有双重作用。从社会学的角度来看，这是这些寡妇被家人和社会抛弃而处于边缘化和沮丧状态的主要原因之一。社会学主题包括解释业力学说以使寡妇合理化，对寡妇的消极态度的形成以及作为排斥来源的宗教。反过来，通过心理镜头，宗教为他们提供了必要的心理资源，以应对日常生活中的一些困难。心理主题包括将苦难视为上帝的工具，发展与上帝的个人联系，向上帝投降，使用宗教仪式来分散苦难，帮助他人，以及将温达文概念化为奎师那的地方和精神撤退的推动者。还讨论了温达文寡妇生活中与理论和宗教模型的联系。使用宗教仪式来分散痛苦，帮助他人，并将温达文概念化为奎师那的地方和精神撤退的推动者。还讨论了温达文寡妇生活中与理论和宗教模型的联系。使用宗教仪式来分散痛苦，帮助他人，并将温达文概念化为奎师那的地方和精神撤退的推动者。还讨论了温达文寡妇生活中与理论和宗教模型的联系。