The Divinity of Krishna

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From the Jacket: This book deals with the extremely popular theme of Krishna. This is a thorough and thoughtful analysis of a subject of importance both to Sanskrit literary history and to the history of Hindu Religion. Tracing an interesting and important span in the history of the religions of Krishna, this book studies the development in the understanding of Krishna's divinity as depicted in his biography in the Harivamsa, the Vishnupurana and the Bhagavatapurana. Each of these texts come from a different century; and each shows a distinct attitude towards its subject, attitudes that might be reduced to the terms hero worship orthodox piety and mystical love. It is in the analysis and comparison of these attitudes that the distinct contribution of the present book lies.

After analyzing how these three texts in their treatment of the very same episodes in the life of Krishna paint a progressively more divine portrait of Krishna, the book traces the evolution of philosophical and theological concepts concerning Krishna's divinity, while a mere sapling in the Harivamsa, grows in the Visnupurana and attains to full maturity in the Bhagavata.

About the Author

Noel Sheth, S.J, is professor of Indian philosophy and religions at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Institute of Philosophy and Religion, Pune. He holds degrees in philosophy, theology, Sanskrit and allied studies. This book earned him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sanskrit from Harvard University in 1980. He has published several research articles and has traveled widely.

Contents:

Foreword 
Preface
Introduction
Chapter
I. KRISHNA IN THE HARIVAMSA

A. Chief Characteristics of a Hero in Heroic Poetry

B. Krishna as a Hero
   The Conception and birth of Krishna
   The early exploits of the child Krishna
   Encounter with the serpent king Kaliya
   Krishna dalliance with the herdswomen
   The killing of Arista and Kesin
   Krishna's return to Mathura, and the death of king Kamsa Krishna's instruction 
   and his journey to the underworld   
   The battle with king Jarasandha
   Bringing about the death of Kalayavana
   The abduction of Rukmini
   The stealing of the Parijata Tree from heaven
   The battles with Jvara (the fever demon), Siva, Guha and Bana
   The encounter with Varuna regarding Bana's cows

C. Krishna as Supreme Divinity
   The lifting of Mount Govardhana    
   Akrura's recognition of Krishna as Visnu and his vision of Visnu   
   The building and embellishment of Dvaraka   
   The slaying of the demon Naraka   
   Krishna as the most wonderful and blessed   
   The rescue of the Brahmin's sons and the revelation of Krishna's divinity to Arjuna   
   Krishna's triumphal return to Dvaraka after punishing Bana   
   The concluding remark of the narrators Vaisampayana and the Suta (bard)
 
II. KRISHNA IN THE VISNU AND BHAGAVATA PURANAS

   The Conception and birth of Krishna   
   The early exploits of the child Krishna   
   Encounter with the serpent king Kaliya   
   The lifting of Mount Govardhana   
   Krishna's dalliance with women   
   The killing of Arista and Kesin   
   Krishna's return to Mathura, and the death of king Kamsa   
   Krishna's instruction and his journey to the underworld   
   The battle with king Jarasandha   
   Bringing about the death of Kalayavana   
   The building and embellishment of Dvaraka
   The abduction of Rukmini    
   The slaying of the demon Naraka
   The stealing of the Parijata Tree from heaven 
   Krishna as the most wonderful and blessed 
   The rescue of the Brahmin's sons and the revelation of   Krishna's divinity
   to Arjuna
   The battle with Jvara (the fever demon), Siva, Guha and Bana
   The encounter with Varuna regarding Bana's cows
   Krishna's triumphal return to Dvaraka after punishing Bana
   The destruction of the Yadavas and of Dvaraka, and Krishna's return to his
   celestial region
	
III. KRISHNA'S NATURE AND RELATION TO CREATION

      A.  Krishna and Creation
	1. Krishna's Nature and his Relation to the World in General according to the
           Harivamsa
	2. Krishna's Nature and his Relation to the World in General according to the
           Visnu Purana
	3. Krishna's Nature and his Relation to the World in General according to the 
           Bhagavata Purana
	4. Krishna as a Portion of the Supreme
	5. Krishna's Relationship with Supernatural Entities
	6. Krishna's Manifest Divine form and Heavenly Adobe	

      B.  Devotion (Bhakti) 
	1. Devotion in the Harivamsa
	2. Devotion in the Visnu Purana
	3. Devotion in the Bhagavata Purana

      C.  Krishna and Salvation
        1. Krishna Bestows Salvation
	2. The Nature of Salvation 
        3. Salvation through Hate and Fear

IV. Conclusion

Selected Bibliography
Index