Fil, Yu. Universality of Vaishnavism and the Place of Ukrainian Culture in ISKCON

Fil, Yu. Universality of Vaishnavism and the Place of Ukrainian Culture in ISKCON // Shìdnij svìt 2020, (2):101–112
https://doi.org/10.15407/orientw2020.02.101
Language: Ukrainian

The article is dedicated to the identical aspects of the development of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Ukraine. To be more precise, to the place of Ukrainian culture in Society and in adherents' life. The topic seems problematic taking to account the huge role of Vaishnava culture (Hindu in its base) in ISKCON. Hence the question is whether there is some space for local (national) culture and national particularities in such Hindu oriented religious movement. The article is the result of fieldwork started in 2015 and taking the systematic character in 2019. The qualitative methods of sociology such as interviews and participant observation were used in the research. The material was collected in the temples of cities and towns in Ukraine such as Kyiv, Lviv, Rivne, Donetsk (the devotees were on the controlled territories at that time), Kharkiv, Mariupol, Berdyansk, Kramatorsk. There were temple administrators and Maharajas among the respondents.

It was proved that in Ukrainian ISKCON as well as in every other Society in the world, the theology of Vaishnavism forms the attitude to the national culture – the aim of a devotee is rather to get rid of all identifications with the material world (hence with national culture) than to identify with it. So, it seems natural that on the level of ISKCON community Ukrainian culture is not cultivated much. Though taking to account the postcolonial context of the development of the country, some devotees have a particular attitude to Ukrainian culture and were trying to incorporate it in Vaishnava worldview. Such adherents see the value of national culture in its connection with the ancient Aryan culture, so they are searching similarities of both cultures in the language, art, way of life, etc. Thus, so-called "Aryan-Tripilian theories of Ukrainian ethnogenesis" appear attractive and relevant for many of them. Though this tendency is quite marginal in Ukrainian ISKCON, it can be named as a national distinguishing feature of Ukrainian ISKCON.

Key words: ISKCON, Ukrainian culture, Vaishnava culture, Vaishnavism, «Aryan myth».

Fil, Yu., Karpitsky, M. Vaishnavas of ISKCON and the Protection of their Own Identity in the Context of the Discussions on Hinduism

Fil, Yu., Karpitsky, M. Vaishnavas of ISKCON and the Protection of their Own Identity in the Context of the Discussions on Hinduism // Shìdnij svìt 2021, (1):102-117
https://doi.org/10.15407/orientw2021.01.102

Language: Ukrainian

The article describes the main methodological difficulties in Hindu Studies and looks on the Bhagavad Gita as it is book trial in Tomsk (Russian Federation) in 2011–2012 years as on the case-study of actuality and practical significance of theoretical bases and statements of the discipline. Among the groups of methodological problems extracted by the authors (identity, terminological, classificatory and practical) the first one is the most up to date. It concerns with the questions of identification of essential features of Hinduism, the reasons to embrace numerous cults and traditions of India into one religion, to find the “Hinduism’ nucleus” and the time of its emergence and development. Article also points out two approaches for study Hinduism – centralist and pluralist, analyzing strengths and weaknesses of both.

On Bhagavad Gita as it is book trial and other events connected to the trial the numerous principal questions were discussed. The main one was about International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) attachment to Hinduism and Indian culture in general. During the discussion the argument about non-Vedic origin of Krishna’s cult was beaten. This argument leaves outside Hinduism not only ISKCON, but whole five hundred years old tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. It was found out why it is incorrect to ask weather Bhagavad Gita as it is and Bhagavad Gita is one and the same books or different books and deconstructed many stereotypes about Hinduism and Hindu people like the stereotype that person to be a Hindu have to be born in Hindu family or the one that caste system is the essential feature for Hinduism. The discussions at the Court and during the conference proved that the centralist approach in Hindu Studies is more productive in the social practice. The trial not only provokes Vaishnavas of ISKCON to defend their identity but also leads to better understanding of ISKCON connection with the tradition of Hinduism and its role in Indian culture.

Keywords: Hinduism, Vaishnavism, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Bhagavad Gita as it is, Bhagavad Gita, Indology