Alternative Krishnas Regional And Vernacular Variations On A Hindu Deity

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The Self-Disclosure of God offers the most detailed presentation to date in any Western language of the basic teachings of Islam's greatest mystical philosopher and Krishna-widely venerated and adored in the Hindu tradition-is a deity of many aspects. An ancient manifestation of the Supreme God Vishnu, or the Godhead itself, Krishna is the bringer of Yoga philosophy and the creator of the universe, the destroyer of evil tyrants, and the hero of the epic Mahabharata. He is also described in classical Sanskrit texts as having human characteristics and enjoying very human pursuits: Krishna is the butter thief, cowherd, philanderer, and flute player. Yet even these playful depictions are based upon descriptions found in the Sanskrit canon, and mostly reflect familiar, classical Pan-Indian images.

In this book, contributors examine the alternative, or unconventional, Krishnas, offering examples from more localized Krishna traditions found in different regions among various ethnic groups, vernacular language traditions, and remote branches of Indian religions. These wide-ranging, alternative visions of Krishna include the Tantric Krishna of Bengal, Krishna in urban women's rituals, Krishna as monogamous husband and younger brother in Braj, Krishna in Jainism, Krishna in Marathi tradition, Krishna in South India, and the Krishna of nineteenth-century reformed Hinduism.

"The whole volume offers a considerable spectrum of various lesser-known forms of Krishna bhakti presented from different research perspectives. It is an informative addition to studies in broadly conceived Vaishnavism and religious traditions."

"...Guy Beck has ... provided] a beautifully produced volume with some fascinating research papers presenting 'regional and vernacular variations on a Hindu deity... [he] has done a great service by collecting and soliciting wonderfully rich and diverse articles."

"Surely, there are few, if any, deities more central and important to Hinduism than Krishna. This volume adds important voices to our understanding of this Hindu deity, a real and very significant accomplishment."

"This is the type of work that many will refer to as a tour de force. Among its other accomplishments. it represents a painstaking reading, translation, and analysis of a major Muslim Arab thinker of notoriously intimidating erudition and subtlety Best of all, it is clear and comprehensible, without sacrificing sophistication and precision."

GUY L. BECK, a religious historian, teaches Hinduism and Asian Religions in the Religious Studies Program at Tulane University. He is the author of Sonic Theology: Hinduism and Sacred Sound.

This book represents a joint effort that began with the 1999 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion in Boston. First I would like to thank Tracy Pintchman, the organizer, for so kindly inviting me to preside over a panel session held there on "Alternative Krishnas." After the session, the members of the panel gathered for lunch at a nearby Indian restaurant. To my surprise, I was unanimously nominated to pursue publication of the panel papers as a book. I then gave my solemn promise to execute the order. There was a kind of consensus that State University of New York Press would be the ideal place for publication. Yet the five papers presented on the panel-Glen Alexander Hayes, June McDaniel, Tracy Pintchman, Anne E. Monius, and Valerie Ritter-needed to be augmented to reach book size. After considerable looking about, three additional papers were submitted by A. Whitney Sanford, Christian Lee Novetzke, and Jerome H. Bauer. Including my own, this brought the total number to nine, an auspicious Indian number. I would thus like to personally thank all of the contributors for producing what I consider a first- rate group of essays.