The Founder of the Hare Krishnas as Seen by Devotees: A Cognitive Study of Religious Charisma (Numen Book Series) (Numen Books: Studies in the History of Religions)

The Hare Krishna movement is one of the most well-known new religious movements in the Western societies. It was founded in New York in 1966 by the Indian monk A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda (1896-1977). The fact that it emerged during the heyday of the countercultural protests is often invoked in the explanations of its success. This book offers a completely new account for the rise and growth of the Hare Krishna movement by analysing it from the viewpoint of cognitive science of religion. It focuses on the charisma of the founder-guru through the writings of his earliest disciples and also takes a close look at the theology and ritual practices of the movement. CONTENTS......Page 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 8 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS......Page 10 ABBREVIATIONS......Page 12 NOTE ON TRANSLITERATION......Page 14 INTRODUCTION......Page 16 Earlier Research on ISKCON......Page 17 Subject of Study......Page 20 Sources......Page 22 Theoretical Viewpoint and Methodological Considerations......Page 27 Overview of Contents......Page 30 What Is Cognitive Science of Religion?......Page 34 Max Weber on Charisma......Page 39 Previous Theories of the Origin of Charisma......Page 44 Cognitive Perspectives on Charisma and its Routinisation......Page 51 Religious Social Categories......Page 52 Socio-political Aspects......Page 54 A Synthesis of Approaches......Page 57 Overview of ISKCON Teachings......Page 60 Prabhupāda’s Teachings on the Guru-Disciple Relationship......Page 69 Qualifi cations of the Guru......Page 70 The Role and Duties of the Disciple......Page 75 Prabhupāda’s Own Position......Page 78 Conclusion......Page 79 CHAPTER THREE INSTITUTIONALISATION OF CHARISMA......Page 80 The Sankīrtana Movement......Page 83 Is ISKCON a Purely Doctrinal Movement?......Page 95 Conclusion......Page 99 CHAPTER FOUR HINDU RITUALS AND CULTURAL MODELS......Page 102 Temple Worship in the Krsna Consciousness Movement......Page 103 The Morning Programme......Page 110 The Meaning of Pūjā......Page 123 Conclusion......Page 127 CHAPTER FIVE CULTURAL MODELS AND PRABHUPĀDA’S CHARISMA......Page 130 Some First Encounters......Page 132 The Role of Indian and Western Cultural Models......Page 137 Frame Violations......Page 146 The Key to Prabhupāda’s Specialness......Page 149 Conclusion......Page 152 CHAPTER SIX THE GURU AS A COUNTERINTUITIVE BEING......Page 154 Unknowability of the Guru’s Mind......Page 158 Prabhupāda as a Counterintuitive Agent......Page 161 Conclusion......Page 170 CHAPTER SEVEN THE GURU’S ESSENCE AND EMOTIONAL IMPACT......Page 172 Prabhupāda’s Essence......Page 174 The Role of Emotions and Feelings......Page 178 Do Feelings Evoke Essentialism?......Page 182 Conclusion......Page 183 CHAPTER EIGHT RITUAL FRAME AND ITS VULNERABILITY......Page 186 Secondary Frames......Page 188 The Guru’s Lack of Knowledge......Page 191 Old Age and Sickness......Page 199 Death of the Guru......Page 203 Conclusion......Page 206 CHAPTER NINE COGNITIVE EXPLANATIONS OF CHARISMA AND NEW RELIGIONS......Page 208 Problems in the Standard View......Page 209 Rethinking Religion and Culture......Page 210 The Role of Cultural Models in Prabhupāda’s Charisma......Page 213 Frame Violations and Religious Symbolism......Page 214 Essentialism and Special Agents......Page 216 ISKCON as a Religious System......Page 219 Conclusion......Page 223 CONCLUSION......Page 226 Sources......Page 230 Literature......Page 233 GLOSSARY......Page 242 INDEX OF NAMES......Page 246 INDEX OF SUBJECTS......Page 248 The Cognitive Approach To Charisma -- The Founder-guru And His Legacy -- Institutionalisation Of Charisma -- Hindu Rituals And Cultural Models -- Cultural Models And Prabhupāda's Charisma -- The Guru As A Counterintuitive Being -- The Guru's Essence And Emotional Impact -- Ritual Frame And Its Vulnerability -- Cognitive Explanations Of Charisma And New Religions. By Kimmo Ketola. Based On The Author's Dissertation (doctoral--university Of Helsinki, 2002). Includes Bibliographical References (p. [215]-225) And Indexes. Introduction The cognitive approach to charisma The founder-guru and his legacy Institutionalisation of charisma Hindu rituals and cultural models Cultural models and Prabhupda's charisma The guru as a counterintuitive being The guru's essence and emotional impact Ritual frame and its vulnerability Cognitive explanations of charisma and new religions Conclusion. "This book offers a new account for the rise and growth of the Hare Krishna movement by analysing it from the viewpoint of cognitive science of religion. It focuses on the charisma of the founder-guru through the writings of his earliest disciples and also takes a close look at the theology and ritual practices of the movement."--BOOK JACKET This book offers a new account for the emergence of the Hare Krishna movement from the perspective of cognitive science of religion. It focuses especially on the charisma of its founder guru, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda (1896-1997) through the writings of his disciples. This book offers a new account for the emergence of the Hare Krishna movement from the perspective of cognitive science of religion. It focuses especially on the charisma of its founder guru, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1997) through the writings of his disciples.