Vaishnava Theology: Encyclopedia - Vaishnava Theology

Vaishnava Theology

Vaishnava Theology is the theological discourse concerning the Hindu deity Vishnu and/or one of His avatar.

Vaishnava Theology - Vaishnava Philosophical/Theological Schools

• Radhavallabha Theology, espoused by Harivamsa Gosvami.
• Vishishtadvaita, espoused by Ramanuja
• Dvaita, espoused by Shri Madhvacharya
• Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology, espoused by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan
• Shuddhadvaita, espoused by Vallabhacharya
• Dvaitaadvaita, espoused by Nimbarka

Vaishnava Theology - Contemporary Vaishnava Theological Discourse

Within the academic study of Hinduism, Vaishnava Theology has been engaged by academic institutions such as the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and Bhaktivedanta College [1]. The discource on Vaishnava theology has been advanced by the work of scholars such as; Hrdayananda Gosvami, Graham Schweig, Kenneth R. Valpey, Tamala Krishna Gosvami, Ravindra Swarupa, Sivarama Swami, Satyaraja Dasa, and Guy Beck among others.

Vaishnava Theology - Bhaktivedanta College and Vaishnava Theology

The current and central programme at Bhaktivedanta College is in Vaishnava Theology. Bhaktivedanta College is ISKCON’s first seminary college. It exists to develop a class of priests, counsellors, ministers, and preachers.

Recently the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies has become one of the major sources of profesors for Bhaktivedanta College. At the same time, Bhaktivedanta College (now recognised by the University of Wales, Lampeter) is becoming a source of students for Oxford Center for Hindu Studies.

Vaishnava Theology - The Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Founded in 1992 by Steven J. Rosen (Satyaraja Dasa), the Journal of Vaishnava Studies (JVS) is considered the most important academic journal in the field of Hindu studies generally and in Vaishnava studies in particular. Dedicated to scholarly research associated with all Vishnu-related traditions, the journal is a thematic, refereed publication catering to intellectuals and practitioners alike. Over the course of its existence, the journal has been lauded by significant Indological entities for its thoroughness and ground-breaking scholarship. Columbia University's Southern Asian Institute newsletter (Vol. 19, No. 2, Spring 1995), for example, ran a full-length article praising the Journal for its visionary approach and for its high quality. Professor Klaus Klostermaier, in his widely used textbook, "A Survey of Hinduism" (Second Edition) notes that "In late 1992 the first issue of a quarterly Journal of Vaishnava Studies under the general editorship of S. J. Rosen began to appear from Brooklyn, New York. Its book-length issues carry important scholarly as well as devotional articles and the new journal is likely to stimulate research and disseminate knowledge on this major religion associated with the name of Vishnu."

In the year 2002, JVS affiliated with Christopher-Newport University, in Virginia, and with A. Deepak Publishing, Inc., thus further insuring its longevity and securing financial stability.

Noted scholars recognize the journal:

"The Journal of Vaishnava Studies has attracted the top scholars in the field, and its pioneering issues -- each constellated around one major theme -- are already required reading in university courses, as well as valuable resources for doctoral candidates." --E.H. Rick Jarow, Vassar College

"A significant contribution to Hindu Studies. . . . For each issue, you have assembled a group of articles that is genuinely informative and also written in such a way as to be maximally intelligible to those not familiar with the intricacies of the particular subject." --John B. Carman, Harvard University

"Not only have you elicited work from a wide range of good scholars, but you have organized a series of thematic issues which will remain useful for years to come." --Francis X. Clooney, S. J., Boston College

Vaishnava Theology - Dasavatara

The Dasavatara of Vishnu are the subject matter of some Vaishnava discource.

1. Matsya, the fish
2. Kurma, the tortoise
3. Varaha, the boar
4. Narasimha, the Man-Lion (Nara = man, simha = lion)
5. Vamana, the Dwarf
6. Parashurama, Rama with the axe
7. Rama, Sri Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya
8. Krishna (meaning dark or black; see also other meanings in the article about him.)
9. Balarama (meaning one who holds a plough) or Buddha (see below)
10. Kalki ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness"), who is expected to appear at the end of Kali Yuga, the time period in which we currently exist, which will end in the year 428899 CE.

Vaishnava Theology - Puranic Vishnu Avatara

The Bhagavata Purana describes the various lilas of twenty-five avatara of Vishnu[2].

1) Catursana 2) Narada Muni 3) Varaha 4) Matsya 5) Yajna 6) Nara Narayana 7) Kapila 8) Dattatreya 9) Hayasirsa 10) Hamsa 11) Prsnigarbha 12) Rsabha 13) Prthu 14) Nrsimha 15) Kurma 16) Dhanvantari 17) Mohini 18) Vamanadeva 19) Parasurama 20) Raghavendra 21) Vyasa 22) Balarama 23) Krishna 24) Buddha 25) Kalki

Category: Vaishnavism

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Vaishnava Theology", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki