Envisioning a Spiritual Lineage: A Short Note on Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī’s Gauḍīya Bhāṣya Invocation Verses on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam’s Invocation Verse

Abstract

The article Envisioning a Spiritual Lineage by Abhishek Ghosh offers a textual and historical reading of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī’s invocation verses from his Gauḍīya Bhāṣya commentary on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Ghosh interprets these verses as a declaration of spiritual continuity, connecting Bhaktisiddhānta to the lineage of Gauḍīya stalwarts and Madhva theology. The article highlights how Sanskrit poetic conventions are employed to articulate philosophical fidelity, devotional aspiration, and polemical positioning. Ghosh’s analysis situates the verses within debates over disciplic succession and the legitimacy of the Gauḍīya-Madhva synthesis. Ultimately, the piece presents Bhaktisiddhānta’s vision of lineage as both historical testimony and spiritual aspiration.