Krishna Kshetra Swami at ISKCON NYC; Book cover.

In his new book Krishna’s Wonderful Form: A Guide for the Perplexed, Krishna Kshetra Swami gives his readers a “fly on the wall” immersive experience where you hear the characters in his book discuss a host of topics related to, you guessed it, Krishna’s form, particularly His deity form.

Written as a conversation between three fictional characters and Krishna Kshetra Swami, the book offers elaborate but relatable explanations on topics such as idols and idolatry, the different energies, expansions, various forms of Krishna, and even more intimate details such as information about deity dress, worship, and pastimes.

When I say this book is immersive, I mean it. After briefly setting the scene, the series of conversations immediately begin to explore the proverbial “nitty gritty” in such a way that the reader is deeply drawn into the conversation. The first conversation is between Jake, a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Florida, and Krishna Kshetra Swami at Krishna House, situated near the university. It opens with a discussion of deities, idols, and idolatry. Krishna Kshetra Swami exhibits his grasp of the common misunderstandings and obstacles faced by those formed by Western religious or secular traditions. His vast knowledge, accumulated from years of study and fueled by his curiosity, is evident. Jake then introduces his sister, Angela, and, later, his friend Rabindra into the conversation. Set over several weeks, the conversations explore a myriad of topics but still manage to stay connected to the central theme.

The particularly amazing thing about this book is that despite the density of information and philosophy, I never felt that it was over my head. Swami expertly explains even the most complex of topics. Thanks to his decades of experience, he has anticipated the natural questions on this subject at hand and, through the agency of the characters, is able to present and satisfactorily answer them. He also uses these characters to pose challenges to the ideas proffered in his own voice and then gives explanations and elaborations accordingly.

Krishna Kshetra Swami at the 2019 Kirtan Simha Festival.

One of the interesting ideas put forth by Krishna Kshetra Swami is that when you see the deity, what you see is what you get, but it also depends on who you are. The same can be said for potential readers of this book. Those unacquainted with deities in the tradition of bhakti yoga can use this book as both a crash course and in-depth guide. For those with some knowledge but still having significant questions, many of the answers can be found in this volume. For those more experienced practitioners, you will discover a new way of presenting bhakti philosophy and a helpful cultural context for those unfamiliar with the Judeo-Christian tradition and its philosophy. This book has it all, something for everyone. It is hard to put down once you pick it up, and you will walk away feeling as if you have just had a personal conversation with Krishna Kshetra Swami himself.

BOOK DETAILS:

The two-hundred page book is published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and includes several beautiful full-color images of deities as well as a helpful glossary in the back. See screeshots of the table of contents below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

To learn more about Krishna Kshetra Swami’s biography, hear lectures, see his many academic and popular writings, and follow his worldwide preaching schedule, please visit his website. You may also follow him on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, and YouTube.

To order a copy of the book in the US, click here. In Europe, it is available through Bhaktivedanta Library Services by clicking here. It is also available in the UK through the Bhaktivedanta Manor’s online store. For bulk orders in North America, please contact the NA-BBT via email.

ABOUT THE REVIEW AUTHOR:

Uttamasloka Das is a regular contributor to ISKCON News and serves as a brahmachari at the ISKCON Chicago Temple. He is leaving soon for India. To learn more about the purpose of his pilgrimage and how you can support his ongoing service, please click here.