ITHAMAR THEODOR ITHAMAR

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 College. He is what has come to be known as Hinduism is ITHAMAR THEODOR important, central and popular scriptures the author of Exploring the Bhagavad Gita: paralleled only by the epic Ramayana. Yet it of Hinduism. A medieval Sanskrit text, Philosophy, Structure and Meaning (2010), is, at first glance, a thematically complicated its influence as a religious book has a Choice Outstanding Academic Title for and stylistically unusual text. Building on been comparable only to that of the 2011 and winner in 2013 of the Dharma his work analyzing the narrative structure of great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Academy of North America (DANAM) Book the Bhagavad Gita, Ithamar Theodor expertly Mahabharata. Ithamar Theodor here offers Award for Excellence in Indic Studies. argues that the combining of all the elements the first analysis for twenty years of the contained in the Bhagavata was a conscious Bhagavata Purana (often called the ‘Fifth E harmonizing of two distinct orthodox Veda’) and its different layers of meaning. THE LANGUAGE, STRUCTURE AND MEANING OF THE ‘FIFTH VEDA’ xploring scholastic traditions: the philosophical one He addresses its lyrical meditations on stemming from the Upanishads, and the literary the activities of Krishna (avatar of Lord aesthetical one drawing from the rasa theory Vishnu), the central place it affords to the of kavya poetics. This is a fascinating and doctrine of bhakti (religious devotion) and groundbreaking work.’ its treatment of older Vedic traditions of knowledge. At the same time he places –EDWIN BRYANT, PROFESSOR OF HINDU RELIGION AND

PHILOSOPHY, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY th this subtle, poetical book within the context of the wider Hindu scriptures

‘The Bhagavata Purana, composed in eloquent e and the other Puranas, including the

Sanskrit about a thousand years ago, has B similar – but less grand and significant –

become one of the principal sources of hagavata Vishnu Purana. The author argues that the inspiration for Hindu traditions of devotion Bhagavata Purana is a unique work which to Krishna as Supreme Being. In his carefully Exploring the represents the meeting place of two great researched work, Ithamar Theodor takes us orthodox Hindu traditions, the Vedic- along a new path of interpretation, arguing Upanishadic and the Rasa-Aesthetic. systematically for an aesthetic understanding As such, it is one of India’s greatest of the text as key, and showing in the process hagavata theological treatises. This book illuminates B

how apparent incompatibilities of its teaching P its character and continuing significance. can be reconciled by this approach. In future, urana no meaningful comment about or study of the www.ibtauris.com Bhagavata Purana can afford to neglect the ISBN 978-1-78453-199-7 urana illuminating argument of this book.’ P

–JULIUS LIPNER, FBA, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF THE LANGUAGE, STRUCTURE HINDUISM AND THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RELIGION, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 9 781784 531997 Cover image: Sudama approaching the golden city of Khrishna, AND MEANING OF THE ‘FIFTH VEDA’ 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)