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 Gaudiya 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.
Steven J. Rosen (Satyaraja Dasa) is a biographer, scholar, and author in the fields of philosophy, Indic religion, and comparative spirituality.
Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter One: Yuga Avataras: God(s) of a Different Color Chapter Two: Ten From Infinity: The Dasavatara Story Chapter Three: Ropes of Love: The Sweet Pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara Chapter Four: Radha Raman - Three Deities in One Chapter Five: Jagannath: The Entire Universe in a Block of Wood Chapter Six: The Country Charm of Sri Sri Radha-Vrindaban Chandra Chapter Seven: The Intimate Majesty of Sri Sri Rukmini-Dvarakadhisa Chapter Eight: S ri Na thji , Madhavendra Puri, and the Dawn of Love Chapter Nine: Hawaii Five-O: The Panca Tattva in the Aloha State Chapter Ten: Sri-Sri Radha-Gopinath: The Apogee of Krishna Consciousness Bibliography About the Author
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, Vassar College 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, Stockholm University
