The Dark Age of Gaudiya Vaishnavism

[Guest guest]

Kennedy was quoted in an earlier post by Mukunda Datta, portrayed as fairly

favorable, if not committed, to Gaudiya Vaishnavism:

 

>>> It is also considerable that the above scholars probably read more than most

or all of us have, while both were also fairly favorable (if not committed) to

Gaudiya Vaisnavism as well. <<<

 

However, I received notes from some friends about his writings, pointing out

that the book Kennedy, who was a Christian missionary, wrote on the Gaudiya

traditon was originally written in 1930. Hence the book also had an agenda of

clearing out the "competition" by labeling the Gaudiya tradition as a religion

which had corrupted to a serious degree over the centuries.

 

I was recommended to read "Vaishnavism in Bengal" by Ramakanta Cakravarti, which

I hear presents a more balanced of the Gaudiya tradition of the two centuries in

discussion. In fact, Ramakanta Cakravarti disputes the presentation of Kennedy

on a number of occasions. Let me try to get hold of the book.

 

Regards,

 

Madhava