Examines Ka''s hint of laughter (prahasann iva) in the Bhagavadgt, its interpretations in the Vednta commentarial tradition, and its significance in Kaite iconography and literature.
Behind Ka''s Smile offers a wholly original perspective on the celebrated Bhagavadgt, or "Song of God." The book investigates Ka''s hint of laughter (prahasann iva) in Bhagavadgt 2.10, which is generally understood to be the turning point of the famous poem, signaling the outpouring of his grace and teaching to Arjuna. Remarkably, it is from this verse that akara and other leading theologians begin to write their commentaries. In addition to exploring the momentousness of Ka''s hint of laughter and its impact on the poem''s central teachings, Behind Ka''s Smile provides a crucial interpretation of Ka''s prahasann iva in the Vednta commentarial tradition, from akara up to modern times. The book also considers the meanings of the stock phrase prahasann iva in the larger epic framework of the Mahbhrata and Rmyaa. Moreover, the book offers the first comprehensive review of the significance of Ka''s smile in Kaite iconography and literature, demonstrating that there is a unified canon bringing together the literary and performative dimensions of Ka’s hint of laughter.