BooksHindu Encounter with ModernityKedarnath Datta Bhaktivinoda: Vaisnava Theologian by Shukavak N. Dasa Bhaktivinoda envisioned the modern Hindu as the saragrahi (essence seeker), one who could appreciate the truth held within all religious perspectives. Retail Price: US $24.95 Special Web Price $14.95
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REVIEWS REVIEW: "Bhaktivinoda's explanation of human comprehension of the divine not only sheds light on Vaishnavism but also blasts many ridiculous stereotypes held by some Westerners. ... those earnestly pursuing an understanding of Indian religion, history and culture, especially devotional yogic practice, will find this book vitally interesting." (Jeff Ahrens, American Library Association Booklist REVIEW: "Dr. Shukavak has written a clear analysis of the strains between traditional faith and modern critical thought and the distinctive ways that Kedarnath sought to resolve these tensions. He examines how Kedarnath, a modern, sophisticated man could understand, experience and explain lucidly the complex theology and simple faith of devotion to Radha-Krishna in the Caitanya Vaishnava fashion." (Joseph T. O'Connell, University of Toronto) REVIEW: "Shukavak Das acknowledges his own identification with the spiritual lineage of Kedarnath Datta. He at the same time stands back from offering a hagiographic exposition and says so openly at the outset. If I were studying a figure from my own tradition, I would do the very same thing. In my view, Shukavak's book displays real intellectual integrity on this point." (Willard G. Oxtoby, University of Toronto) REVIEW: "I have read Dr. Shukavak's work with great interest and enjoyment. I find it to be an excellent work of scholarship: carefully researched, convincingly argued, and very well written. This book is an important scholarly contribution to our knowledge of modern India and of the Hindu tradition in the modern world." "Shukavak Das demonstrates both excellent research skills and scholarly integrity in bringing to light a much more complete, and much more compelling, account of Bhaktivinoda's religious development than hagiographies have previously told us, and, that he (Bhaktivinoda) had perhaps the broadest ranging religious experience of anyone of his generation...Variety of experience, of course, does not in itself produce great religious thought; it must be synthesized in the mind of a spiritual genius. Shukavak Das leaves little doubt that Bhaktivinoda was such a genius, a devotee whose vision transcended his culture and his time." "Shukavak's assessment of these issues and his analysis of Bhaktivinoda's solutions is quite simply the best I have seen... The result is a clarification of Bhaktivinoda's thought from a scholarly perspective without in the least infringing on his integrity as a devotee." (Thomas J. Hopkins, Franklin & Marshall College)
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Table of Contents In this well-researched, comprehensive, and objective study Dr. Shukavak systematically examines Bhaktivinoda's reinterpretation and application of Hinduism in the context of rational thought.
Bhaktivinoda's spiritual insights which divide religion into two constituent parts, the phenomenal and the transcendent allowed him to combine critical rational analysis with the best of Hindu mysticism, Krishna lila. This created a unique synthesis of tradition and modernity. Instead of relinquishing modernity, he utilized it in his writings; instead of rejecting Hindu tradition in the presence of rational thought, he strengthened it.
Author's Comments: This book results from twelve years of original research involving three trips to England and Bengal. Government archives, Bengali villages and individual homes were searched for information pertaining to Kedarnath Datta's life. This study relied particularly upon three formerly untranslated sources of information: Bhaktivinode's autobiography Svalikhita-jivani, Bhaktivinoda's Sri Krishna-samhita, a theological work, and his journal Sajjana-tosani.
Author Bio Data: Shukavak Dasa received his Ph.D. in South Asian Studies and his Masters degree in Sanskrit grammar from the University of Toronto in Canada. He is presently a practicing Hindu priest in Southern California and lecturer at many local University.
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