Book Reviews
Keywords:
Walther Eidlitz, Religious Autobiography, Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava, Hindu Bhakti, Hindu Mysticism, Sadananda DāsaAbstract
This review essay by Neal Delmonico examines Journey to Unknown India, the autobiographical work of Austrian author Walther Eidlitz, highlighting its place within the genre of religious autobiography and its broader cultural resonance. Eidlitz chronicles his spiritual transformation during a journey to India amid World War II, beginning under monistic meditation master Śrī Viśvanāth Mahārāj and later guided by the German Vaiṣṇava scholar Sadananda. Through encounters with the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, devotional practices, and figures of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava lineage, Eidlitz transitions from intellectual seeker to devoted practitioner. Delmonico critiques the narrative's historical imprecision and minimalistic style, while reflecting on its patriarchal undertones and selective portrayal of women. The review draws comparative insights from similar religious autobiographies, such as those by Agehananda Bharati and St. Augustine, positioning Journey to Unknown India within both literary and theological traditions. Ultimately, Delmonico reads the work as a spiritual odyssey steeped in fantasy and faith, revealing the power of Hindu bhakti to reorient Western seekers toward divine love.
