Marko A. Geslani

Marko A. Geslani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina. He holds a PhD from Yale University (2011) and specializes in the history of religion, with a focus on ritual studies and medieval Hinduism. His office is located in Rutledge 328, and he can be contacted via phone (803-777-2284) or email.

Geslani's research examines ritual transformations in early Hinduism, particularly through śānti (omen-appeasement) rituals, as explored in his 2018 book Rites of the God-King. His current work investigates the intersection of astral traditions (jyotiḥśāstra) with gender, personhood, and state formation in Hindu texts, alongside critical analyses of Orientalism and racial dynamics in Asian religious studies.

He teaches diverse courses, including:

• Introduction to Hinduism (RELG 210)
• Introduction to Buddhism (RELG 220)
• Religion and the Arts: History of Idolatry (RELG 270)
• Theories of Religion (RELG 390)
• Race and Religion: Orientalism (RELG 471)
• Special Topics: History of Sacrifice (RELG 491)