Hindu Theology in Early Modern South Asia

Kiyokazu Okita

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

Explores the historical development of a Hindu devotional movement in early modern South Asia
Provides a comparative analysis of Sanskrit texts, including hitherto un-translated material
Examines the interactio between the text and conext
Reveals the complexity and sophistication of Hindu Theology

Hindu Theology in Early Modern South Asia

Kiyokazu Okita

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

Description

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 centred 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 Brahmanicaly 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.

Hindu Theology in Early Modern South Asia

Kiyokazu Okita

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

Hindu Theology in Early Modern South Asia

Kiyokazu Okita

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

Author Information

Kiyokazu Okita is an Assistant Professor at the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research / Department of Indological Studies, Kyoto University. After obtaining his D.Phil. from the Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford, he served as a lecturer at the Department of Religion, University of Florida . Subsequently, he was a JSPS post-doctoral research fellow at the Department of Indological Studies, Kyoto University (2011-13) as well as a visiting research fellow at the Department of Indian and Tibetan Studies, University of Hamburg (2012-13).

Hindu Theology in Early Modern South Asia

Kiyokazu Okita

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

Reviews and Awards

"[T]his is a rich source of information on the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition, with careful philological and comparative argumentation. It makes an important contribution to our understanding of Baladeva s role in the history of the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition and establishes a firm foundation and critical methodology for further comparative studies within the Vaisnava traditions of theology."--Journal of the American Oriental Society

Hindu Theology in Early Modern South Asia

Kiyokazu Okita

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

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