Product Description
by Lavanya Vemsani (Author)
Balarama in Hindu and Jain Mythology is the most comprehensive study of the God Balarama to date. The book analyzes historical understanding of Balarama through comparative analysis of mythology of Balarama from Hindu and Jain texts. Examination of Balarama in Hindu and Jain mythology demonstrates that cultural and religious symbolism is deeply rooted in the myths of Balarama. A comparison of Hindu and Jain myths indicates that although there are similarities between the two traditions, Jain traditions demonstrate sufficient differences to postulate that they may have been derived from an independent historical tradition separate from Hindu tradition.
Author Biography
Lavanya Vemsani is Full Professor of History at Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH (http: //www.shawnee.edu/academics/social-sciences/faculty/lvemsani.aspx). She holds two doctorates in History and Religious Studies (from University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India and McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada). Her book Krishna in History, Thought, and Culture: Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names, is an exhaustive resource on Hinduism and Krishna. Her other book, India to 1500, is on Indian History and utilizes new research on India and contributes an up to date analytical account of Indian History. She has also taught in the School of Social Sciences in the Department of Religious Studies at the McMaster University (Hamilton, ON) and St. Thomas University (Fredericton, NB) in Canada. She is also the recipient of Distinguished Teaching Award at Shawnee State University, and a number of distinguished research awards and grants including the Best Canadian Ph.D. dissertation on South Asia 2007, Honorable Mention Prize by the South Asia Council of Canadian Asian Studies Association and Post-Doctoral Research Grant (For her dissertation: Balarama in Hindu Jain Mythology, McMaster University, 2005) of the Shastri Indo Canada Institute, and Junior and Senior Research Fellowships of the University Grants Commission (Government of India). Her research interests include Hinduism in the world, Jainism, and Popular religions of India, Early modern women, early history of India, Classical and Modern literature of India. She teaches courses on World history and World religions and in particular courses on history and religious studies of India including religions of South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia. She is a well- known academic researcher and prolific writer. She has published and presented a number of articles on India. She also served as Chair of the Religion in India section, of the professional organization, American Academy of Religion- Mid Atlantic Region (AAR-MAR).
