From Purāṇa-Veda to Kārṣṇa-Veda

Abstract

 The article "From Purāṇa-Veda to Kārṣṇa-Veda" by Barbara A. Holdrege explores how the Bhāgavata Purāṇa reconfigures the concept of śruti by claiming a status equivalent to the Vedas. Drawing on textual analysis, Holdrege demonstrates that the Bhāgavata employs deliberate rhetorical strategies—self-referential declarations, mythic legitimations, and reinterpretation of traditional hermeneutics—to elevate Purāṇic discourse into the sacred Vedic fold. She highlights how the Bhāgavata invokes the authority of Kṛṣṇa's words and divine actions to substantiate its theological and epistemological primacy, thus coining an alternative scriptural identity termed “Kārṣṇa-Veda.” The article also situates this transformation in broader debates about śruti versus smṛti, suggesting that the Bhāgavata not only subverts but redefines canonical boundaries in a way that supports Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava theological commitments. In doing so, Holdrege illustrates the fluidity and contestation involved in establishing scriptural authority in Hindu traditions.