The Churning of Controversy: Vaiṣṇava Sahajiyā Appropriations of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism

Abstract

The article “The Churning of Controversy: Vaiṣṇava Sahajiyā Appropriations of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism” by Glen Alexander Hayes explores how the medieval Vaiṣṇava Sahajiyā tradition appropriated and reinterpreted core elements of orthodox Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism. It highlights the theological, ritualistic, and sociocultural tensions that arose from these heterodox adaptations, especially regarding Sahajiyā use of Tantric practices and reinterpretations of canonical figures and texts. The article critically examines the evolution of Sahajiyā texts, their controversial claims of legitimacy, and the broader implications for understanding religious innovation and heresy within the Vaiṣṇava landscape.