Vaisnavism and Politics
The New Dharma of Braj?
Keywords:
Vaishnavism, politics, Braj, Vrindavan, sacred space, environmental activism, dharma, Krishna, bhakti, ecology, Vrindavan Forest Revival Project, Mircea Eliade, pilgrimage, sacred geography, spiritual ecology, contemporary Hinduism, cultural preservation, lilaAbstract
Klaus K. Klostermaier’s essay “Vaishnavism and Politics: The New Dharma of Braj?” critically examines the evolving relationship between Vaishnava religiosity and political activism in the Braj region. Klostermaier explores how traditionally apolitical devotional movements centered on bhakti and Krishna's līlā have increasingly become entangled with contemporary sociopolitical dynamics. Focusing on Vrindavan and the broader Vraja area, the essay discusses the rise of environmental and cultural preservation efforts—such as the Vrindavan Forest Revival Project—as expressions of a "new dharma" that merges spiritual concerns with ecological and civic activism. Drawing on Mircea Eliade’s concept of sacred space, Klostermaier argues that these modern movements reflect an expanded interpretation of dharma, where preserving the sacred geography of Krishna’s pastimes becomes a moral and religious imperative. This intertwining of theology, activism, and regional identity illustrates how Vaishnavism is adapting to present-day challenges, blurring the lines between devotion, ethics, and politics.
