Ethnosemantics in Vraja

Local Meanings of Vrndavana

Abstract

In "Ethnosemantics in Vraja: Local Meanings of Vrndavana," Charles R. Brooks examines how contemporary residents and pilgrims of Vrndavana conceptualize the sacred town, blending scholarly discourse with lived religious experience. Drawing on fieldwork, Brooks analyzes local understandings of Vrndavana’s dual identity as both material and spiritual, and its relation to broader sacred geographies such as Goloka and Vaikuntha. He highlights the semantic flexibility with which Vrndavana is invoked—ranging from a specific locale to a cosmic center of Krishna’s rasa-līlā. The essay illustrates how Vrndavana serves as both a religious and cultural cornerstone, embodying spiritual ideals and anchoring local identity.