Modern Yoga and Srī Vaiṣṇavism
Keywords:
Śrī Vaiṣṇavism, T. Krishnamacharya, modern yoga, postural yoga, bhakti, embodiment, yoga theology, tradition and innovation, devotional practiceAbstract
The article "Modern Yoga and Srī Vaiṣṇavism" by Klas Nevrin explores the adaptation of modern postural yoga within the framework of Śrī Vaiṣṇava theology, particularly as articulated in the lineage of T. Krishnamacharya. Nevrin examines how Krishnamacharya—both a learned Vaiṣṇava and a pioneering yoga teacher—reconciled classical Vaiṣṇava values with evolving, body-oriented yogic practices. The article highlights tensions between embodied disciplines and traditional devotional paradigms that emphasize humility, surrender, and scriptural authority. Through historical, ethnographic, and textual analysis, Nevrin reveals how Śrī Vaiṣṇava practitioners in modern contexts creatively navigate these tensions, framing physical yoga not as a goal in itself but as a vehicle for deepening bhakti and ethical refinement.
