This course will deal with the emergence of Vaishnavism as a dominant strand of religion from around the 6th century of the Common Era in the Indian subcontinent and its eventual efflorescence over several centuries culminating in the devotionalism of Eastern India in the 16th century. The survey over several decades of epigraphic, art historical, poetic, theological, and ritual materials will enable one to get a historical perspective on why Vaishnavism has one of the dominant forms of Hinduism existent today.