Bhaktivinode and the Problem of Modernity

Abstract

The article by Shukavak Das examines Thakur Bhaktivinode's "modern approach" or adhunika-vada, as presented in his Krishna-samhita. This article highlights Bhaktivinode's innovative use of 19th-century linear and progressive historical analysis to re-evaluate Vedic and Vaishnava traditions, aiming to appeal to modern intellectuals (bhadralok) and bridge the gap between tradition and modernity. It explains how Bhaktivinode categorized spiritual seekers into different levels of faith and introduced the concept of the saragrahi, an "essence seeker" capable of navigating diverse religious perspectives without compromising their core beliefs. The article further explores Bhaktivinode's theological justification for employing critical methods, based on his distinction between phenomenal (artha-prada) and transcendent (paramartha-prada) aspects of scripture, demonstrating how he reconciled modern scholarship with traditional faith, even challenging accepted beliefs like the age and authorship of the Bhagavata Purana.