Relishing Krishna in the Vaiṣṇaiva Tradition

Krishna is among the most beloved and influential manifestations of the Divine in the Hindu traditions. Revered as the Supreme Godhead in many schools of Bhakti Yoga, Krishna embodies a vision of divine love that has inspired saints, poets, theologians, and practitioners for centuries.

From his playful childhood adventures to his intimate relationships with devotees, Krishna’s stories reveal a spirituality rooted not in abstraction, but in relationship. Through affection, friendship, wonder, and longing, the Krishna traditions offer a rich vision of what it means to encounter the Divine as a living presence.

Among the great theologians of this tradition, few have shaped our understanding of devotion more profoundly than the sixteenth-century scholar Rūpa Gosvāmin. In his celebrated work, the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (“The Ocean of the Nectar of Devotional Rasa”), Rūpa adapts the classical Sanskrit theory of aesthetic emotion (rasa) into a sophisticated map of divine love, illuminating the distinct moods through which devotees experience relationship with Krishna.

In this immersive workshop, renowned scholar and practitioner Edwin Bryant will guide participants through Rūpa’s vision of devotional rasa alongside some of the most beloved stories from the Bhagavata Purana, the foundational text of Krishna devotion. Together, we will explore how these narratives embody different modes of loving God—particularly as child, friend, and beloved—and consider their enduring theological and spiritual significance.

Whether you are new to Krishna traditions or a longtime student of Indian spirituality, this workshop offers an opportunity to engage one of the world’s most sophisticated devotional traditions with both intellectual depth and heartfelt openness.

No prior knowledge of Sanskrit, Hindu philosophy, or Bhakti traditions is required. Bring only an open heart and a curious mind.

Explore Rūpa Gosvāmin’s influential framework of devotional rasa and its role in Bhakti theology
Explore Rūpa Gosvāmin’s map of divine love and its enduring influence on Bhakti Yoga
Read and discuss selected passages from the Bhagavata Purana and the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu
Discover how devotees cultivate relationship with Krishna through distinct moods of love, including child, friend, and beloved
Gain insight into the theological vision of Krishna as the Supreme Object of devotion
Deepen your understanding of one of India’s most enduring and influential devotional traditions

Edwin Bryant received his Ph.D. in Indic languages and Cultures from Columbia University. He taught Hinduism at Harvard University for three years and is presently the professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University where he teaches courses on Hindu philosophy and religion. He has received numerous awards and fellowships, published eight books, and authored a number of articles on the earliest origins of the Vedic culture, yoga philosophy, and the Krishna tradition.

As a personal practitioner of bhakti yoga for over 45 years, a number of them spent in India studying with traditional teachers, where he returns yearly, Edwin strives to combine academic scholarship and rigor with appreciation towards traditional knowledge systems. His teaching method is to allow the ancient texts to speak in their own voice and through their own terms and categories.

Edwin’s most recently published work is Bhakti Yoga: Tales and Teachings from the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2017). This work seeks to ground the practices of bhakti in the traditional Krishna-centered framework of the Vrindavan devotional traditions. sites.rutgers.edu/edwin-bryant