History, Myth, and Śrīvaiṣṇava Hagiography: Lessons from Biblical Scholarship

Abstract

The article "History, Myth and Srivaishnava Hagiography: Lessons from Biblical Scholarship" by Patricia Y. Mumme explores the interpretive challenges posed by hagiographical texts in the Srivaishnava tradition. Critiquing the long-standing practice of using these sacred biographies as straightforward historical sources, the author questions key assumptions about authorship, accuracy, and the demythologization of miraculous elements. Drawing on methodologies from biblical scholarship—specifically form criticism and redaction criticism—Mumme proposes a more nuanced approach to understanding hagiography. This comparative framework helps distinguish devotional narrative from historical biography while still appreciating its theological and communal value.