Forms of Krishna

Reviews / Votes

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 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, Rutgers University