About the Speaker: Dr. Harsha V. Dehejia Physician and Adjunct Professor of Indian Studies in the College of Humanities of Carleton University.

He has a double doctorate, one in medicine and the other in Ancient Indian Culture both from the University of Mumbai in India. He is also a member of the Royal College of Physicians of Glasgow and London and of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, all by examination. He is a practicing Physician and Adjunct Professor of Indian Studies in the College of Humanities of Carleton University.

Spoke on: October 2, 2006

Topic: "UNDERSTANDING THE ROMANTIC KRISHNA through Sensuous Images & Sacred Words"

Listen to Dr. Dehejia's recorded talk "Understanding the Romantic Krishna through Sensuous Images & Sacred Words"

Click here for Dr. Dehejia's publications.
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Contact Dr. Dehejia.

Synopsis of the Talk

The shringara rasa of Krishna becomes the dominant theme of the dashama skanda (tenth chapter) of the Bhagavata Purana (a Hindu Epic) and then for a thousand years Krishna poetry and painting resonates in courts and havelis, with the raja and the praja, in chowks and streets and touches people throughout the country but especially in north western India. A proper understanding of the romantic Krishna can only come through a deep realisation of the twin concepts of shringara and bhakti.

The most evocative representation of the shringara bhakti of Krishna is through the beautiful miniature paintings [see a sample image] of the Rajput courts in Rajasthan and the hill states of the Himalayas.

The illustrated talk will trace this development over five hundred years from the 15th to the 19th century.

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