06 A Socio-Psychological Study of Piri-Muridi

Abstract

The current study is an endeavor to explore the various reasons that compel people to visit Pirs (holy men) with special socio-psychological perspective within Pakistani society. 431 participants were recruited from different areas of the country, belonging to different educational backgrounds and having diverse professional statuses. The study determined that participants visit Pirs for learning and acquiring guidance from Pirs and also for the decipheration of everyday life problems. In the category of learning and guidance, 42.13% participants stated that it is the attainment of religious education that people acquire from Pirs. 38.74% reported that people visit Pirs for getting spiritual education. 14.77% participants reported that it is the need to gain worldly education and less than 2% people reported that it is not the attainment of education or guidance that people seek from Pirs rather it is black magic that people learn to harm others.