The`Fifthveda´ of Hinduism

ITHAMAR THEODOR Ithamar Theodor is Associate Professor ‘The influence of the Bhagavata Purana on The Bhagavata Purana is one of the most of Hindu Studies at Zefat Academic College, what has come to be known as Hinduism is ITHAMAR THEODOR important, central and popular scriptures Safed, Israel, and is concurrently Lecturer in paralleled only by the epic Ramayana. Yet it of Hinduism. A medieval Sanskrit text, Hindu-Jewish Studies at the University is, at first glance, a thematically complicated its influence as a religious book has been of Haifa. He is a graduate of the University and stylistically unusual text. Building on comparable only to that of the great Hindu of Oxford, a Life Member of Clare Hall in the his work analyzing the narrative structure of epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. University of Cambridge and has been an the Bhagavad Gita, Ithamar Theodor expertly Ithamar Theodor here offers the first analysis Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Chinese argues that the combining of all the elements for twenty years of the Bhagavata Purana University of Hong Kong. His first book contained in the Bhagavata was a conscious (often called the ‘Fifth Veda’) and its different Exploring the Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy, harmonizing of two distinct orthodox layers of meaning. He addresses its lyrical Structure and Meaning (2010) was a Choice scholastic traditions: the philosophical one T meditations on the activities of Krishna POETRY, PHILOSOPHY AND DEVOTION IN THE DEVOTION AND PHILOSOPHY POETRY, Outstanding Academic Title for 2011 and stemming from the Upanishads, and the HE (avatar of Lord Vishnu), the central place it winner in 2013 of the Dharma Academy of literary aesthetical one drawing from the rasa affords to the doctrine of bhakti (religious North America (DANAM) Book Award for theory of kavya poetics. This is a fascinating ` devotion) and its treatment of older Vedic Excellence in Indic Studies. and groundbreaking work.’ F traditions of knowledge. At the same time I ft he places this subtle, poetical book within – EDWIN BRYANT, PROFESSOR OF HINDU RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY the context of the wider Hindu scriptures 222mm H and the other Puranas, including the similar ‘The Bhagavata Purana, composed in eloquent V – but less grand and significant – Vishnu Sanskrit about a thousand years ago, has Purana. The author argues that the Bhagavata EDA become one of the principal sources of Purana is a unique work which represents inspiration for Hindu traditions of devotion the meeting place of two great orthodox to Krishna as Supreme Being. In his carefully ´ Hindu traditions, the Vedic-Upanishadic researched work, Ithamar Theodor takes us O and the Rasa-Aesthetic. As such, it is one of along a new path of interpretation, arguing F India’s greatest theological treatises. This systematically for an aesthetic understanding H book illuminates its character and continuing of the text as key, and showing in the process BHAGAVATA PURANA significance. INDUISM THE`FIftH VEDA´ how apparent incompatibilities of its teaching can be reconciled by this approach. In future, www.ibtauris.com no meaningful comment about or study of the OF INDUISM Bhagavata Purana can afford to neglect the ISBN 978-1-78453-199-7 H illuminating argument of this book.’ POETRY, PHILOSOPHY AND DEVOTION – JULIUS LIPNER, FBA, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF IN THE BHAGAVATA PURANA HINDUISM AND THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RELIGION, 9 781784 531997 UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Cover image: Sudama approaching the golden city of Krishna, from the Bhagavata Purana. Originally from Garwhal in the Punjab Hills, from the V&A’s collection (Photo by CM Dixon/Print Collector/Getty Images) TheFifthVeda.indd 1 08/01/2016 14:06 90mm 11mm 141mm 22mm 141mm 11mm 90mm.

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