Vaishnavism in India and Abroad

About the Book Among many Vedantic philosophies of India Vaisnava philosophy became more successful and still living and followed throughout the world today. `Vaisrjavism' is an important branch of Indian philosophy which has presented the ultimate principles of Vedic tradition of India. When other traditions direct us to follow most difficult paths, `Vaisrjavism' shows the simple but most effective path. This philosophy is based on system of Bhakti (devotion). Gaudiya Vaigrjavas from Orissa & West Bengal such as Sri Krspa Caitanya were the followers of Madhvacarya. In that tradition came a famous saint Srila Prabhupada who initiated the ISKCON throughout the world. This ISKCON movement, which is a branch of Gaudiya Vaisnavism, regards Sri Madhvacarya as the source of inspiration.

Papers published in this book focus on these aspects of 1Vaisrjavism'. These presentations do not discuss the details of `Vaisnavism' in a stereotyped way, but explain various socio political issues related to it especially in the countries other than India. This anthology will help the intellectual devotees for their spiritual development and for intellectual contribution. We believe that scholars and devotees will appreciate our efforts in bringing out this book for the spread of spirituality in the world.

About the Author Prof. C. Upender Rao is Chairperson of Special Centre for Sanskrit Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has extensively written in Sanskrit, Telugu and English languages. Ile received. Kasturba award from Akhila Bharat ya Vichiat Parishad, Varanasi, Samskrta Sella Sunman from Delhi Sanskrit Academy, Government of Delhi and Vidya Sagar award from Institute of Oriental Studies, Kolkata. He received three Gold medals from Osmania University and Banaras Hindu University. He has been the member of number of academic bodies in India including Academic and Court councils in J.N.U. He was the visiting professor in National University of Kiev Mohyla Academy, at Kiev in Ukraine, L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan and Belarus State University, Minsk, Belarus and taught Sanskrit language and Buddhist philosophy in these places.

Preface I am delighted to present these papers on various aspects of 'Vaisnavism'. These presentations do not discuss the details of 'Vaisnavism' in a stereotyped way, but explain various socio political issues related to it especially in the countries other than India. Most of these papers were presented in the international workshop on philosophy of Vaisnavism organized by me in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India in our special centre for Sanskrit studies on 7-2-2013 at conference hall 1st floor. This workshop was successfully organized by me mainly with the cooperation of Prabhu Evenly Smitskiy, devotee from Ukraine.

I felt it was the need of the hour to convene such workshops as People in India have neglected other difficult paths and started getting initiated into 'Vaisnavism'. As a consequence number of teachers came into existence in India.

They have opposed the mayavada (falsehood of the world) and 'nirvisesa-Brahma-vada' propounded by Sankara and spread the Bhakti siddhanta in the world.

Though there are three principle traditions in Vedanta, the Vaisnava philosophy became more successful and living throughout the world today. 'Vaisnavism' is an important branch of Indian philosophy. When other traditions direct us to follow other difficult paths, 'Vaisnavism' shows the simple but most effective path. This philosophy is based on system of Bhakti (devotion). "Vaisnavism" believes and describes lord Krsna as God. More importantly it teaches about the eternal relationship of individuals and All- Pervading Supreme Lord Sri Krsna.

Dr. Anastasia Domanskaya, who is a lecturer in the department of Philosophy in Minsk, Belarus in her paper has discussed the family life of the Belarusian Gaudiya Vaisnavites living in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine who first time had the opportunity to learn about the life of the devotees' family in Donetsk of Ukraine where she had an opportunity to stay at the house of the devotees who had two daughters. This family lived in ashrams for a long time, including those in India. The experiences of the mother of those girls tell us how devoted these devotees are. She stayed at the temple for the japa meditation and only after that she used to return to home. Thus the paper of Dr. Anastasia gives us the vivid picture of various feelings of devotes. I think this is the best paper based on the survey of vaisnava-devotes in abroad.

Prof. Dr. Shabanova Julia Alexandrina who is working as a Head of the dept. of Philosophy at State HEI "National Mining University", at Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine has elaborated the Theory and Practice of Bengal Vaisnavism in the Cultural integration of East and West. This article represents the thorough analysis of fundamental concepts of Caudiya-Vaisnavism. It also presents a comparative analysis of Caudiya-Vaisnavism and Western philosophical studies. A practical realization of Caudiya- Vaisnavism in contemporary socio-cultural area is represented as an analysis of ISKCON activity in Ukraine. A systematic and successful development of the studies by followers of Caitanya namely, "Vrndavana Gosvami" and Rupa, Sanitaria, Jiva are discussed. The causes of successful dissemination of ISKCON in Ukraine and some shortcomings of its activity are represented in this paper.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages