Krishna's Cosmic Victories
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8200522 |
|---|---|
| Authors | John Stratton Hawley (Seattle University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1979 |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 201-221 |
| Publication date | 1979-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of the American Academy of Religion (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0002-7189 • E-ISSN: 1477-4585 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/jaarel/xlvii.2.201 |
| OpenAlex | W2034130830 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 2 |
In this article I attempt to uncover priorities in the worship of Krishna from 500 to 1500 A.D. which are not always clear in texts of the period but which emerge with great force in sculpture By a series of indices it is shown that Krishna's battles with the serpent Kāliya at the River Jumna and his battle with Indra at Mount Govardhana were much the most popular motifs in the Krishna sculpture of the period These battles were singled out for such marked attention, I believe, because of their unique role in representing aspects of Krishna's cosmic victory. Krishna's victories at river and mountain, over the waters below and the waters above, establish cosmic order according to paradigms that are familiar both in Indian religion and in the history of religions generally. One meaning of this order is that the forces which are defeated take their proper place in the cosmos, namely, at its limits. In recognizing their proper relation to Krishna as the center of the cosmos and guarantor of its order, they become his devotees and are portrayed as such. Of particular interest are the strong affinities that bind Krishna to his enemies in these two cases, affinities that are not present with Krishna's other adversaries. I conclude the essay by drawing attention to a complex of ritual events in which this cosmic victory is reaffirmed in India today. They form collectively a New Year's cycle whose impressive analogies to “classical” New Year's rites have been little noticed.
Aesthetics · Ancient history · Art · Battle · Epistemology · Literature · Meaning (existential) · Order (exchange) · Period (music) · Political science · Relation (database) · Theology · Victory · Worship · History · Jungian Analytical Psychology · Law · Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs · Philosophy · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,05 |
| Citation span | 1986 - 2005 (20) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |