Vaishnava theology

Vaishnava theology is the theological discourse concerning the Hindu deity Vishnu and/or one of His avatar.

Vaishnava Philosophical/Theological Schools

Radhavallabha theology, espoused by Harivamsa Gosvami, see Krishnology.
Vishishtadvaita, espoused by Ramanuja
Dvaita, espoused by Shri Madhvacharya
Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology, espoused by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan
Shuddhadvaita, espoused by Vallabhacharya
Dvaitaadvaita, espoused by Nimbarka

Contemporary Vaishnava theological discourse

Within the academic study of Hinduism, Vaishnava theology has been engaged by academic institutions such as the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and Bhaktivedanta College ^*. The discource on Vaishnava theology has been advanced by the work of scholars such as; Hrdayananda Gosvami, Graham Schweig, Kenneth R. Valpey, Tamala Krishna Gosvami, Ravindra Swarupa, Sivarama Swami, Satyaraja Dasa, and Guy Beck among others.

Bhaktivedanta College and Vaishnava theology

The current and central programme at Bhaktivedanta College is in Vaishnava theology. Bhaktivedanta College is ISKCON’s first seminary college. It exists to develop a class of priests, counsellors, ministers, and preachers.

Recently the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies has become one of the major sources of profesors for Bhaktivedanta College. At the same time, Bhaktivedanta College (now recognised by the University of Wales, Lampeter) is becoming a source of students for Oxford Center for Hindu Studies.

The Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Founded in 1992 by Steven J. Rosen (Satyaraja Dasa), the Journal of Vaishnava Studies (JVS) is a pivotal academic journal of Hindu studies, and in Vaishnava studies in particular. Dedicated to scholarly research associated with all Vishnu-related traditions, the journal is a thematic, refereed publication catering to intellectuals and practitioners alike. Over the course of its existence, the journal has been lauded by significant Indological entities for its thoroughness and ground-breaking scholarship. Columbia University's Southern Asian Institute newsletter (Vol. 19, No. 2, Spring 1995), for example, ran a full-length article praising the Journal for its visionary approach and for its high quality. Professor Klaus Klostermaier, in his widely used textbook, A Survey of Hinduism (Second Edition) notes that "In late 1992 the first issue of a quarterly Journal of Vaishnava Studies under the general editorship of S. J. Rosen began to appear from Brooklyn, New York. Its book-length issues carry important scholarly as well as devotional articles and the new journal is likely to stimulate research and disseminate knowledge on this major religion associated with the name of Vishnu."

In the year 2002, JVS affiliated with Christopher-Newport University, in Virginia, and with A. Deepak Publishing., thus further insuring its longevity and securing financial stability.

Dasavatara

The Dasavatara of Vishnu are the subject matter of some Vaishnava discource.

Matsya, the fish
Kurma, the tortoise
Varaha, the boar
Narasimha, the Man-Lion (Nara = man, simha = lion)
Vamana, the Dwarf
Parashurama, Rama with the axe
Rama, Sri Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya
Krishna (meaning dark or black; see also other meanings in the article about him.)
Balarama (meaning one who holds a plough) or Buddha (see below)
Kalki ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness"), who is expected to appear at the end of Kali Yuga, the time period in which we currently exist, which will end in the year 428899 CE.

Puranic Vishnu Avatara

The Bhagavata Purana describes the various lilas of twenty-five avatara of Vishnu ^*.

Vaishnavism