Forms of Krishna: Collected Essays on Vaishnava Murtis

by Steven Rosen, Kenneth Valpey (Foreword by)

Overview

Scholars of religion and seekers in general will find Forms of Krishna: Collected Essays on Vaishnava Murtis to be an informative introduction to Indic philosophy and Vaishnava history, particularly in terms of Krishna’s form and the underlying theological and scriptural background for the worship of his iconic image. For those who are already so informed, many details of Krishna and his worship are unveiled for the first time (at least in the English language), and this is especially so for the much beloved icons explored in these pages, whose full story may be hard to find, even in Sanskrit and Bengali literature. Just as Krishna’s form and its many variants are central to Gauḍīya Vaishnava thought, the entire philosophy of Indian spirituality, including yoga and meditation, can be understood through these forms in both direct and indirect ways. Steven J. Rosen, well known in the field as founding editor of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies, brings his vast learning to bear, as readers are brought into the esoteric world of Vaishnavism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666930269
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	03/15/2023
Series:	Explorations in Indic Traditions: Theological, Ethical, and Philosophical
Pages:	282
Product dimensions:	6.19(w) x 9.31(h) x 0.85(d)

About the Author

Steven J. Rosen (Satyaraja Dasa) is a biographer, scholar, and author in the fields of philosophy, Indic religion, and comparative spirituality.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter One: Yuga Avatāras: God(s) of a Different Color

Chapter Two: Ten From Infinity: The Daśāvatāra Story

Chapter Three: Ropes of Love: The Sweet Pastimes of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Dāmodara

Chapter Four: Radha Raman — Three Deities in One

Chapter Five: Jagannāth: The Entire Universe in a Block of Wood

Chapter Six: The Country Charm of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Vrindaban Chandra

Chapter Seven: The Intimate Majesty of Śrī Śrī Rukmiṇī-Dvārakādhīśa

Chapter Eight: Śrī Nāthjī, Mādhavendra Purī, and the Dawn of Love

Chapter Nine: Hawaii Five-O: The Pañca Tattva in the Aloha State

Chapter Ten: Śrī-Śrī Rādhā-Gopīnāth: The Apogee of Krishna Consciousness

Bibliography

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Steven Rosen provides readers with an engaging study of Chaitanya Vaishnavism's focus on Krishna "Deity" worship, containing a wealth of fascinating historical, theological and philosophical detail. Those that are unfamiliar or only moderately familiar with the background and meaning of Indic devotional temple practices will find that this work greatly expands their knowledge in this regard.

Ferdinando Sardella

The significance of, and practices surrounding, the worship of murtis (deities) in Vaishnava temples and homes may be the most difficult aspect of Indian spirituality to understand, especially for those not born into the culture. This volume provides an in-depth, comprehensive study of such forms of Krishna in India and beyond. Steve Rosen has written a splendidly researched and nuanced study of the various murtis (forms) of Krishna that includes detailed histories of great temple traditions, the many narratives and back stories that surround them, and descriptive insights into temple cultures. This volume is a "must" for students of Hindu religion and culture and for practitioners who would like to understand the complete spectrum of devotional theism.

Rick Jarow

The most immediately and ubiquitously visible face of Hinduism in India and abroad are the majestic temples housing Deities of the variegated forms of God worshipped in the various Hindu traditions. Yet for many acculturated in countries historically dominated by Biblically derived religiosities, Deities are also the most challenging aspect of Hinduism to grasp theologically, given the severe injunctions found in the Old Testament against 'worship of the graven image.' In this volume, one of the foremost and certainly most prolific scholars of Vaishnavism brings a variety of Krishna Deities into real living presences, each with its own uniquely marvelous history, specific personal flavor and tailormade worshiping culture. Deities are transubstantiated forms of God, living presences each with its own personality, graciously appearing in a form that can accept the service of embodied devotees. Rosen masterfully portrays the theological coherence and logic of Deity worship, and captures the extremely real and personal interaction between Deity and devotee in this long overdue volume. A must read for anyone interested in understanding actual on-the-ground Hinduism, as opposed to the highly selective, transmogrified yoga-derived versions typically found on the shelves of Eastern philosophy in Western bookstores.

Edwin Bryant