The founder of the Hare Krishnas as seen by devotees : a cognitive study of religious charisma / by Kimmo Ketola.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ketola, Kimmo.

Series:

Studies in the history of religions ; 120.

Numen book series : studies in the history of religions, 0169-8834 ; v. 120

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 1896-1977.

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (248 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The Hare Krishna movement is one of the most well-known new religious movements in the Western societies. It was founded in New York in 1966 by the Indian monk A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda (1896-1977). The fact that it emerged during the heyday of the countercultural protests is often invoked in the explanations of its success. This book offers a completely new account for the rise and growth of the Hare Krishna movement by analysing it from the viewpoint of cognitive science of religion. It focuses on the charisma of the founder-guru through the writings of his earliest disciples and also takes a close look at the theology and ritual practices of the movement.

Contents:

Introduction

The cognitive approach to charisma

The founder-guru and his legacy

Institutionalisation of charisma

Hindu rituals and cultural models

Cultural models and Prabhupāda's charisma

The guru as a counterintuitive being

The guru's essence and emotional impact

Ritual frame and its vulnerability

Cognitive explanations of charisma and new religions

Conclusion.

Notes:

Based on the author's dissertation (doctoral--University of Helsinki, 2002).

Includes bibliographical references (p. [215]-225) and indexes.

ISBN:

1-283-06080-9

9786613060808

90-474-3326-2

OCLC:

704941654

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004166134.i-234 DOI