Academic research posits that one must go back to “original sources” for the facts. The Vaisnava position, established by Srila Prabhupada, confirms over and over again that it is the realizations of the mahajans and all other great predecessors that provide the road to truth. In a Srimad Bhagavatam purport, Srila Prabhupada lists some of the famous commentators he relied upon in his studies: “Even big academic scholars, not considering the endeavors of the acaryas who have recommended devotional service in many elaborate commentaries and notes, think that Krsna is fictitious. This is due to a lack of transcendental knowledge and a failure to awaken Krsna consciousness. One should have the common sense to ask why, if Krsna or Rama were fictitious, stalwart scholars like Sridhara Svami, Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Viraraghava, Vijayadhvaja, Vallabhacarya and many other recognized acaryas would have spent much time to write about Krsna in notes and commentaries on Srimad Bhagavatam.”(10.2.35.) Srila Prabhupada also often referred to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami, Visvanatha Cakravarty, Madhvacarya, and Ramanujyacarya to name a few.