Essays on Vaisnavism in Bengal By Rahul Peter Das

Rahul Peter Das: Born in 1954 in Germany. Education up to and including the Pre-Medical Examination in Calcutta (National Merit Certificate, JB-NSTS scholar and Science Fair award winner, Indian representative at the London Youth Science Fortnight 1973). Studied Indology, Islamic Studies and Tamil at Cologne, Hamburg, Bonn and Kiel. M.A. (1981), Dr.phil. (1985) and Habilitation (1993) from Hamburg University. Special fields of interest: Vedic Studies, Ayurveda, Vṛksayurveda, Bengali Studies (especially "folk" and 'syncretistic religions). From 1981 to 1994 engaged in research work in Ayurveda and Vrksayurveda at the Universities of Hamburg, Bonn and Groningen (Nether- lands). Also taught Bengali and Sanskrit at Hamburg University during this time. Since 1994 professor for the philology of modern Indian languages at the University of Halle- Wittenberg. Visiting professor at the University of Marburg in 1994-1995. Numerous publications, conferences and lectures in Germany and abroad.