The Hagiographies of Advaitācārya

Abstract

The article analyzes the unique case of hagiographies dedicated to Advaitacarya, a key figure in early Gaudiya Vaisnavism, contrasting them with the more numerous biographies of the founder, Krishna Caitanya. Rebecca J. Manring and Tony K. Stewart investigate three specific hagiographies – Advaitaprakasa, Balyalilasutra, and Sitacaritra – purportedly discovered and published by Acyutacarana Caudhuri in the early 20th century. The article highlights the scarcity of manuscripts for these texts and their relative obscurity within the tradition, raising questions about their authenticity and historical impact. It delves into the academic debate between skeptics who view these texts as later productions due to narrative discrepancies and the presence of specific dates (uncharacteristic of earlier hagiographies), and promoters who defend their authenticity based on their theological or political significance within Advaitacarya's lineage. The article suggests that the choice of low-profile authors for these texts might have been a strategy to gain credibility under emerging 19th and 20th-century historical standards, rather than a traditional act of devotional homage. Ultimately, it explores how these hagiographies reflect a shift in understanding "authenticity" from devotional to historical criteria within the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition.