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Madhvacharya




Madhvacharya ( 1238 - 1317 ) was the chief proponent of Tattvavāda (True Philosophy), popularly known as Dvaita or Dualistic school of Hindu Philosophy . It is one of the three most influential Vedanta philosophies. Madhva was one of the important philosophers during the Bhakti Movement . He was a pioneer in many ways, going against standard conventions and norms. Madhvacharya is believed by his followers to be the third incarnation of Vayu , aka MukhyaPrana , after Hanuman and Bhima .


FORMATIVE YEARS

Shri Madhvacharya was born as ''Vaasudeva'' to Madhyageha Bhatta (father) and Vedavati (mother) at Pajaka in Udupi , Karnataka .


DVAITA PHILOSOPHY


''Shri Madhvacharya'', like Ramanuja espoused a Vaishnava Theology that understands Brahman as endowed with attributes and as a personal God, Vishnu (by Brahman , he referred to ''the infinite, immanent and transcendent Utimate Reality'' and not the ''sub-caste'')


ONTOLOGY


The basic tenet of Madhva philosophy is the existence of two kinds of realities -

  • ''Independent reality'' (svatantra) - which is none other than Brahman or Vishnu. According to Madhva, only Brahman is indepedent in every sense of the word.


  • ''Dependent reality'' (asvatantra) - plurality of Jiva s and Prakriti or Nature. Both the Jivas and Nature are dependent on Brahman for their very "being" and "becoming". This dependence is expressed metaphorically as ''Bimba-pratibimba'' (source-reflection) relation. The reflection is in everyway dependent on the source that gets reflected.



Madhva's Credo


Madhva was motivated by his four convictions -

# A determination to remain true to experience above everything.
# A commitment to sound reasoning
# A fervent devotion to a personal God ( Vishnu ) that drove all his actions
# Fearless tenacity in expounding his vision in the most hostile environments.


Philosophy of Realism


Dvaita school belongs to the Realist school of Indian Philosophy , in the same category as Samkhya , Nyaya , Vaisheshika and Purva Mimamsa schools. They believe that the universe is a real creation of Brahman . The plurality of souls are bound by a "real" bondage due to beginning-less ignorance, and Sadhana through Vishnu Bhakti is the only way to be released from this bondage. Further, Madhva explains that Jnana or knowledge alone is not sufficient for the release from beginningless Avidya or ignorance, since this bondage is sustained by the "Will" of Brahman and so needs Vishnu Prasadam to ultimately break the bonds of Māyā .


Five Differences


Dvaita , or Dualistic philosophy (known severally as Bheda-vâda, Tattva-vâda, and Bimba-pratibimba-vâda), asserts that the difference between the individual soul or jîva, and God,(Îshvara or Vishnu), is eternal and real. Actually, this is just one of the five differences that are so stated -- all five differences that constitute the universe are eternal.

  • The five are given by: