Hindu theology in early modern South Asia : the rise of devotionalism and the politics of genealogy / Kiyokazu Okita.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Okita, Kiyokazu, 1980- author.

Series:

Oxford theology and religion monographs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Baladevavidyābhūṣaṇa, 1720-1790. Govindabhāṣya.

Baladevavidyābhūṣaṇa.

Vaishnavism--India--Jaipur (Princely State)--History--18th century.

Vaishnavism.

Jai Singh II, Maharaja of Jaipur, 1686-1743.

Jai Singh.

History.

India--Jaipur (Princely State).

Physical Description:

xiii, 284 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2014.

Summary:

Focusing on the idea of genealogical affiliation (sampradaya), Kiyokazu Okita explores the interactions between the royal power and the priestly authority in eighteenth-century north India. He examines how the religious policies of Jaisingh II (1688-1743) of Jaipur influenced the self-representation of Gaudiya Vaisnavism, as articulated by Baladeva Vidyabhusana (ca. 1700-1793) Gaudiya Vaisnavism centered around God Krsna was inaugurated by Caitanya (1486-1533) and quickly became one of the most influential Hindu devotional movements in early modern South Asia. In the increasingly volatile late Mughal period, Jaisingh II tried to establish the legitimacy of his kingship by resorting to a moral discourse. As part of this discourse, he demanded that religious traditions in his kingdom conform to what he conceived of as Brahmanically normative. In this context the Gaudiya school was forced to deal with their lack of clear genealogical affiliation, lack of an independent commentary on the Brahmasutras, and their worship of Goddess Radha and Krsna, who, according to the Gaudiyas, were not married. Based on a study of Baladeva's Brahmasutra commentary, Kiyokazu Okita analyses how the Gaudiyas responded to the king's demand. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Historical Background 21

1.1 The Kachvahas: The Builders of the Mughal Empire 22

1.2 The Tale of Govindadeva: The Kachvahas and the Gauoryas 27

1.3 Jaisingh II's Moral Discourse 30

1.4 Religious Disputes at the Court of Jaisingh II 33

1.4.1 Krsna's Relationship with Radha 35

1.4.2 Lack of Sampraddya Affiliation 36

1.4.3 Lack of the Brahmasutra Commentary 38

2 The Genealogy of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas 41

2.1 Caitanya's Lineage 44

2.1.1 Formal Affiliation: The Guruparampard Lists 44

2.1.2 Theological Affiliation 51

2.2 Baladeva: A Madhva or a Gaudiya? 56

2.2.1 Baladeva as a Madhva 56

2.2.2 Baladeva as a Gaudiya (1) 58

2.2.3 Baladeva as a Gaudiya (2) 59

3 Bhagavata Theologies in Comparison 63

3.1 The Catuhslokibhagavata: The Bhagavata Parana in Four Verses 63

3.2 The Context of the Catuhslokibhdgavata 69

3.3 The First Verse (Bhagavata Parana 2.9.32) 70

3.4 The Second Verse (Bhagavata Purdna 2.9.33) 84

3.5 The Third Verse (Bhagavata Purdna 2.9.34) 95

3.6 The Fourth Verse (Bhagavata Purdna 2.9.35) 105

3.7 Conclusion 122

4 Baladeva's Govindabhasya 125

4.1 Baladeva on Mangala 126

4.1.1 The Introduction of the Suksma Tika 126

4.1.2 The First Interpretation 129

4.1.3 The Second Interpretation 136

4.1.4 Conclusion 140

4.2 Baladeva on the First Five Sutras 141

4.2.1 Preamble 142

4.2.2 Brahmasutra 1.1.1 154

4.2.3 Brahmasutra 1.1.2 161

4.2.4 Brahmasutra 1.1.3 165

4.2.5 Brahmasutra 1.1.4 174

4.2.6 Brahmasutra 1.1.5 180

4.2.7 Conclusion 184

4.3 Baladeva on Prakrti 185

4.3.1 Brahmasutras 1.4.23-25 186

4.3.2 Brahmasutras 1.4.26-27 188

4.3.3 Conclusion 195

4.4 Baladeva on the Living Entity 196

4.4.1 Brahmasutras 2.1.21-25 196

4.4.2 Brahmasutras 2.3.41-43 208

4.4.3 Conclusion 219

4.5 Baladeva on Sri 220

4.5.1 Brahmasutra 3.3.39 221

4.5.2 Brahmasutra 3.3.40 223

4.5.3 Brahmasutra 3.3.41 226

4.5.4 Brahmasutra 3.3.42 227

4.5.5 Conclusion 233

4.6 Baladeva on Differentiating Capacity (Visesa) 234

4.6.1 Brahmasutras 3.2.28-30 234

4.6.2 Brahmasutra 3.2.31 236

4.6.3 Conclusion 252.

Notes:

Based on the author's thesis (University of Oxford).

Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-279) and index.

ISBN:

9780198709268

0198709269

OCLC:

873746480