God at Play : Lila in Hindu and Christian Traditions

The first comparative treatment of the topic of lila in Hindu and Christian traditions, this volume explores what it means to consider divine and human action under the categories of play, wit, drama, grace, and compassionGod at Play presents a theological exploration of the multifaceted motif of lila across diverse Hindu and Christian landscapes and its wide-ranging connections to divine and human creativity.Given its ubiquity in Hindu theologies and life-forms, lila offers a rich comparative framework for exploring certain ways of understanding divine and human action as expressed in Hindu and Christian sacred texts, philosophical theology, and ritual practices. Though lila is often interpreted simply as “play,” the essays in this volume reflect a far richer semantic and conceptual field, ranging from spontaneity and gratuitousness, through joy and humor, to mercy and compassion.By focusing on the different contexts in which lila is found in Hindu traditions and resisting any uniform