Books

Publications by HG Srila Krishna Kshetra Prabhu

Krsna-seva: The Theology of Deity Worship in Caitanya Vaisnavism


After a brief look at Caitanya Vaisnava epistemology, and the avatara-theology in this tradition, the author explains basic principles of the bhakti-theology, and the concept of sadhana or practice, and how sound and form interrelate to allow a sentient being to become spiritually elevated. "Arcanam versus Idolatry" aims at comperative theology, whereby image worship in the Krishna-bhakti tradition of Caitanya Vaisnavism is juxtaposed with biblical objections to image worship. Here again, the focus is on the nature of bhakti, conceived as the ultimate modus of spirituality, leading toward and bringing about prema, or unfettered love for the supreme Being, God, or Krishna.

This book is addressing the following questions:

  • In which sense can apparently immovable material object be considered saintly and thus worthy of worship?
  • How is the practise of arcanam (formal deity worship) considered to be a means for approaching and being approached by God?
  • Is there a common ground relating arcanam, the Caitanya Vaisnava tradition, and Judeo-Christian tradition which dismisses all types of "idolatry"?





    • Attending Krishna's Image: Chaitanya Vaishnava Murti-seva as Devotional Truth

    Dear Devotees,
    Please accept my humble obeisances. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

    Happy New Gaurabda!

    On the suggestion of some devotees to make it more known, this is to inform you about the recent publication of my book on deity worship in our Gaudiya tradition:

    Attending Krsna's Image: Caitanya Vaisnava Murti-seva as Devotional Truth by Kenneth Russell Valpey. London / New York: Routledge, 2006.

    The book is the result of three years of research and writing, based on my doctoral thesis submitted to the University of Oxford in 2003 which I successfully defended to receive the degree. Although it is a work meant to call attention to our deity worship tradition among scholars of religion, I wrote it with an equal aim to offer a service to devotees desiring to gain a deeper sense of what our deity worship tradition and philosophy is about.

    The book is essentially a study of two particular Gaudiya temples, namely, the Radharamana temple in Vrindavan (which Srila Prabhupada urged devotees to study for its worship standards) and the Bhaktivedanta Manor outside London. By considering the history and contexts of both these temples I place them in comparison, especially to explore the dynamics of two principles -- vidhi (regulation) and raga (emotion) -- as they relate to each other and are expressed in the worship and understandings of the respective temple devotees. The book also has an important philosophical component, exploring the notion of 'religious truth' -- a theme gaining attention in some scholarly circles recently -- as appropriately applying to the practice of deity worship.

    So, the good news is that this book is out and available (not through me, but through e.g. www.amazon.com, where you can view the table of contents).

    The 'bad' news is that it is thus far available only in hardback, at a price that is quite unrealistic for most of us mortals (and I get no royalties from it, mind you), namely, about US $100.-- per copy!

    What I'm proposing is NOT that you run out and order the book (unless you are keen to get a finely bound collector's item: the publisher printed only 300 copies of it; and if you are feeling a bit wealthy or have a rich uncle), but that you DO rally a contact or two who are either students or professors at your nearby college or university who could submit the title to that institution's acquisitions librarian. Often these librarians are happy to oblige by ordering the book. In this way, if the publisher sees that the hardbound copies are getting sold, they will go ahead and print it in paperback, which will then be available at a much more accessible price for devotees. Every single hardbound copy ordered puts us all closer to this possibility, so I appreciate any effort you can make in this regard.

    Please note that I CANNOT myself supply any copies of the book to you -- neither in printed form nor in software form. It is only available from the publisher or from book mailorder houses.

    your servant

    Krsna-ksetra dasa