This first thematic issue of RIAS aims to shed light on the theme of motherhood in the context of South Asian religious traditions, by examining historical and contemporary figures, texts, beliefs and practices. The proposed contributions will analyse how motherhood, in its gendered aspects, constitutes a site of negotiation of relations with the religious in different traditions, favouring a comparative perspective on the relations between maternity and religion and drawing parallels between a variety of case studies with different disciplinary and methodological approaches.