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Acting As a Way of Salvation: A Study of Rāgānugā Bhakti Sādhana
Sixteenth-century Hindu theologian Rupa Gosvamin established a technique by which, in imitating one of the significant figures in Krishna's dramatic world, a devotee might actually come to inhabit the world of the character whose part he or she was playing.
Acting As a Way of Salvation shows that the Hindu view of reality accepts such role playing, called Raganuga Bhakti Sadhana, as a natural part of human experience - the preeminent way to salvation. Haberman challenges the assumption that Hindu devotionalism or bhakti is a religion of grace which requires no discipline or effort. He shows that deliberate dramatic technique is a significant part of the tradition, as ultimate reality is believed to be a cosmic drama - the eternal play of Krishna. According to Gaudiya Vaisnavism, whose religious activities center around raganuga bhakti sadhana, there is a whole world of which we are normally unaware, and that each of us has a 'double.' Haberman investigates this extraordinary double called the 'perfected body' and the disciplined transformation techniques used in taking on the role, and demonstrates that the 'perfected body' is the key to entering and participating in the dramatic world of Krishna's play.
Throughout the book, Haberman explores Indian dramatic theory, Rupa's unique application of that theory to devotionalism, developments in the practice of this technique, its contemporary manifestations, and finally, the technique's significance to religious experience in general. Presenting documents and materials never before examined in Western texts, this fascinating study will appeal to scholars of both religion and drama, students of North Indian bhakti and those with a general interest in south Asian religious culture.
David L. Haberman is Assistant Professor of Religion at Williams College.
"An excellent book. Haberman shows how it is that a certain very influential Vaisnava theologian of the sixteenth century, Rupa Gosvamin, rearranged previously existing categories of aesthetic and to some degree religious analysis to make a case for 'acting as a way of salvation.' The exposition is so clear and interesting that the book will become a basic work in its field." - John Hawley, Barnard College.
Acting As a Way of Salvation shows that the Hindu view of reality accepts such role playing, called Raganuga Bhakti Sadhana, as a natural part of human experience - the preeminent way to salvation. Haberman challenges the assumption that Hindu devotionalism or bhakti is a religion of grace which requires no discipline or effort. He shows that deliberate dramatic technique is a significant part of the tradition, as ultimate reality is believed to be a cosmic drama - the eternal play of Krishna. According to Gaudiya Vaisnavism, whose religious activities center around raganuga bhakti sadhana, there is a whole world of which we are normally unaware, and that each of us has a 'double.' Haberman investigates this extraordinary double called the 'perfected body' and the disciplined transformation techniques used in taking on the role, and demonstrates that the 'perfected body' is the key to entering and participating in the dramatic world of Krishna's play.
Throughout the book, Haberman explores Indian dramatic theory, Rupa's unique application of that theory to devotionalism, developments in the practice of this technique, its contemporary manifestations, and finally, the technique's significance to religious experience in general. Presenting documents and materials never before examined in Western texts, this fascinating study will appeal to scholars of both religion and drama, students of North Indian bhakti and those with a general interest in south Asian religious culture.
David L. Haberman is Assistant Professor of Religion at Williams College.
"An excellent book. Haberman shows how it is that a certain very influential Vaisnava theologian of the sixteenth century, Rupa Gosvamin, rearranged previously existing categories of aesthetic and to some degree religious analysis to make a case for 'acting as a way of salvation.' The exposition is so clear and interesting that the book will become a basic work in its field." - John Hawley, Barnard College.
211 pages, Hardcover
First published November 24, 1988
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