Trouble in Paradise

A Seventeenth Century Conflict in the Caitanya Vaiṣṇava Tradition

Abstract

The article “Trouble in Paradise: A Seventeenth Century Conflict in the Caitanya Vaiṣṇava Tradition” by Neal Delmonico explores a significant theological and social schism within the Caitanya Vaiṣṇava tradition during the 17th century. Centered on the figures of Rūpa Kavirāja and his teacher Mukundadāsa, the article examines debates over devotional practices and interpretations of divine relationships, particularly surrounding the parakīyā-rasa concept. It details the resulting tensions, institutional responses, and eventual marginalization of Rūpa Kavirāja’s ideas, highlighting the delicate balance between orthodoxy and heterodoxy in maintaining religious continuity.