Friedhelm Ernst Hardy (1943 – 4 August 2004), also known as Fred Hardy, was Professor of Indian Religions, teaching at King's College London. He was a linguist familiar with both classical and modern Indian languages, described in his obituary as "unrivalled in this country and possibly anywhere in the world today".[1] He is the author of two prominent works, The Religious Culture of India: Power, Love and Wisdom and Viraha-Bhakti: The Early History of Kṛṣṇa Devotion in South India.[1]
Hardy was born in the Rhineland and according to his obituary "showed an early interest in languages and scripts."[1] He began studying Sanskrit in Cologne before moving on to his doctoral work at Oxford University in 1967.[1] While at Oxford, he met Aruna Gokhale, a mathematician, whom he later married.
Notable work
Hardy went to Tamil Nadu to conduct research for his doctoral thesis, spending over a year examining the history of Krishnaism, specifically all pre-11th century sources starting with the stories of Krishna and the gopis, of Northern Literature, and including Mayon mysticism of the Vaishnava Tamil saints, Sangam Tamil literature and Alvars' Krishna-centered devotion in the rasa of the emotional union and the dating and history of the Bhagavata Purana.[2][3] The resultant thesis was detailed to the point that it had to be abbreviated for its 1983 publication. His book Viraha-bhakti was considered to have contained some major discoveries.[1] His first discovery concerned the emotion displayed towards Krishna as "bhakti", or object of devotion, in the Bhagavad Gita. Hardy demonstrated that this was more of an intellectual type, whereas emotional bhakti is different and expressed in the various connections between records and traditions there is evidence of early "southern Krishnaism",[2] even there was a tendency to allocate this tradition to the Northern traditions. There is a narrative context in which the early writings in Dravidian culture such as Manimekalai and the Cilappatikaram present Krishna, his brother, and favourite female companions in the similar terms.[4] He argued that the SanskritBhagavata Purana is essentially a Sanskrit "translation" of the bhakti of the Tamil alvars.[5] Accordingly, South Indian texts illustrate close parallels to the Sanskrit traditions of Krishna and his gopi companions, so ubiquitous in later North Indian text and imagery.[4] Some consider his work fundamental to the study of how Hinduism developed.[1] He had also theorised in his subsequent publications how Tamil bhakti gradually spread to the North India and laid the ground for the later bhakti of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Vallabhacharya.
Notable theories and statements
Erotic images on Hindu Temples
After long studies in India, Fred Hardy came up with a theory as to the meaning of erotic sculptures, such as for example visible on the temples of Khajuraho. The erotic sculptures are visible on may temple of the South India, the main area of expertise of Hardy. This theory was first expressed to him by people in a temple's environs. Fred Hardy theorised that the erotic sculptures on the outer walls of Hindu temples are intended to keep away demons from the pure sanctuary of the shrines.[6]
Modern Myth of Hinduism
He has suggested: That the global title of "Hinduism" has been given to [such a variety of religions] must be regarded as an act of pure despair.[7]
Pluralism in religion
He had concluded: religious pluralism is demonstrable nonsense.[8]
Other works and projects
His also was an editor of a general companion to Indic religions, The World's Religions: the Religions of Asia published in 1990. He was also notably invited to give the Wilde Lectures on Comparative Religion at Oxford University were later published in 1994 as The Religious Culture of India: Power, Love and Wisdom.[1]
^ abcdefg Gombrich, Richard. "The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies". www.ochs.org.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
^ abHardy, Friedhelm (2001). Viraha-Bhakti: The Early History of Krsna Devotion in South India (Oxford University South Asian Studies Series). Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN0-19-564916-8.
^ "Book review – FRIEDHELM HARDY, Viraha Bhakti: The Early History of Krishna Devotion in South India. Oxford University Press, Nagaswamy 23 (4): 443 – Indian Economic & Social History Review". ier.sagepub.com. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
^ abMONIUS, Anne E.: Dance Before Doom. Krishna in the Non-Hindu Literature of Early Medieval South India. In: Beck, Guy L., ed. Alternative Krishnas. Regional and Vernacular Variations on a Hindu Deity. Albany: State University of New York Press 2005; Ch. 8. pp. 139–149.
^Norman Cutler (1987) Songs of Experience: The Poetics of Tamil Devotion, p. 13
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
External links
L, Segel. "Review: Play and Separation: Two Studies of Kṛṣṇa – History of Religions, Vol. 23, No. 4 (May 1984), pp. 389–391". 23: 389–391. JSTOR 1062650. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
"Clay Sanskrit Library: CSL People". www.claysanskritlibrary.org. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
Clay Sanskrit Library : Volumes : Seven Hundred Elegant Verses. www.claysanskritlibrary.org. 31 October 2009. ISBN978-0-8147-3687-6. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
friedhelm, hardy, friedhelm, ernst, hardy, 1943, august, 2004, also, known, fred, hardy, professor, indian, religions, teaching, king, college, london, linguist, familiar, with, both, classical, modern, indian, languages, described, obituary, unrivalled, this,. Friedhelm Ernst Hardy 1943 4 August 2004 also known as Fred Hardy was Professor of Indian Religions teaching at King s College London He was a linguist familiar with both classical and modern Indian languages described in his obituary as unrivalled in this country and possibly anywhere in the world today 1 He is the author of two prominent works The Religious Culture of India Power Love and Wisdom and Viraha Bhakti The Early History of Kṛṣṇa Devotion in South India 1 Friedhelm HardyBorn1943Died 2004 08 04 4 August 2004OccupationProf at King s College London Contents 1 Early years 2 Notable work 3 Notable theories and statements 4 Other works and projects 5 See also 6 References and notes 7 External linksEarly years EditHardy was born in the Rhineland and according to his obituary showed an early interest in languages and scripts 1 He began studying Sanskrit in Cologne before moving on to his doctoral work at Oxford University in 1967 1 While at Oxford he met Aruna Gokhale a mathematician whom he later married Notable work EditHardy went to Tamil Nadu to conduct research for his doctoral thesis spending over a year examining the history of Krishnaism specifically all pre 11th century sources starting with the stories of Krishna and the gopis of Northern Literature and including Mayon mysticism of the Vaishnava Tamil saints Sangam Tamil literature and Alvars Krishna centered devotion in the rasa of the emotional union and the dating and history of the Bhagavata Purana 2 3 The resultant thesis was detailed to the point that it had to be abbreviated for its 1983 publication His book Viraha bhakti was considered to have contained some major discoveries 1 His first discovery concerned the emotion displayed towards Krishna as bhakti or object of devotion in the Bhagavad Gita Hardy demonstrated that this was more of an intellectual type whereas emotional bhakti is different and expressed in the various connections between records and traditions there is evidence of early southern Krishnaism 2 even there was a tendency to allocate this tradition to the Northern traditions There is a narrative context in which the early writings in Dravidian culture such as Manimekalai and the Cilappatikaram present Krishna his brother and favourite female companions in the similar terms 4 He argued that the Sanskrit Bhagavata Purana is essentially a Sanskrit translation of the bhakti of the Tamil alvars 5 Accordingly South Indian texts illustrate close parallels to the Sanskrit traditions of Krishna and his gopi companions so ubiquitous in later North Indian text and imagery 4 Some consider his work fundamental to the study of how Hinduism developed 1 He had also theorised in his subsequent publications how Tamil bhakti gradually spread to the North India and laid the ground for the later bhakti of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Vallabhacharya Notable theories and statements Edit Erotic images on Hindu TemplesAfter long studies in India Fred Hardy came up with a theory as to the meaning of erotic sculptures such as for example visible on the temples of Khajuraho The erotic sculptures are visible on may temple of the South India the main area of expertise of Hardy This theory was first expressed to him by people in a temple s environs Fred Hardy theorised that the erotic sculptures on the outer walls of Hindu temples are intended to keep away demons from the pure sanctuary of the shrines 6 Modern Myth of HinduismHe has suggested That the global title of Hinduism has been given to such a variety of religions must be regarded as an act of pure despair 7 Pluralism in religionHe had concluded religious pluralism is demonstrable nonsense 8 Other works and projects EditHis also was an editor of a general companion to Indic religions The World s Religions the Religions of Asia published in 1990 He was also notably invited to give the Wilde Lectures on Comparative Religion at Oxford University were later published in 1994 as The Religious Culture of India Power Love and Wisdom 1 See also EditSvayam Bhagavan Krishna Clay Sanskrit Library Bhagavata Purana Puranas Hardy surname References and notes Edit a b c d e f g Gombrich Richard The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies www ochs org uk Retrieved 29 July 2008 a b Hardy Friedhelm 2001 Viraha Bhakti The Early History of Krsna Devotion in South India Oxford University South Asian Studies Series Oxford University Press USA ISBN 0 19 564916 8 Book review FRIEDHELM HARDY Viraha Bhakti The Early History of Krishna Devotion in South India Oxford University Press Nagaswamy 23 4 443 Indian Economic amp Social History Review ier sagepub com Retrieved 29 July 2008 a b MONIUS Anne E Dance Before Doom Krishna in the Non Hindu Literature of Early Medieval South India In Beck Guy L ed Alternative Krishnas Regional and Vernacular Variations on a Hindu Deity Albany State University of New York Press 2005 Ch 8 pp 139 149 Norman Cutler 1987 Songs of Experience The Poetics of Tamil Devotion p 13 Flood G D 2006 The Tantric Body The Secret Tradition of Hindu Religion IB Tauris p 85 ISBN 1 84511 012 9 Richard King Orientalism and Religion 1999 ISBN 0 415 20257 4 TWO FAITHS ONE FUTURE TWO FAITHS ONE FUTURE PDF Archived from the original PDF on 12 May 2008 Retrieved 27 October 2011 External links EditL Segel Review Play and Separation Two Studies of Kṛṣṇa History of Religions Vol 23 No 4 May 1984 pp 389 391 23 389 391 JSTOR 1062650 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Clay Sanskrit Library CSL People www claysanskritlibrary org Retrieved 29 July 2008 Clay Sanskrit Library Volumes Seven Hundred Elegant Verses www claysanskritlibrary org 31 October 2009 ISBN 978 0 8147 3687 6 Retrieved 29 July 2008 Seven Hundred Elegant Verses c 360 pp Friedhelm Hardy 2008 ISBN 0 8147 3687 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Friedhelm Hardy amp oldid 1024425293, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
