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Dvaita ( theologian Madhva , who wrote commentaries on a number of Hindu scriptures.For Dvaita as a new school of Vedanta exegesis founded by Madhva in the 13th century CE, see: Flood (1996), p. 245. In contrast with the Advaita (non-dualist) philosophy expounded by Shankara , Madhva (who is also known as Madhvacharya) maintains that there is an eternal distinction between the individual self and the absolute.For contrast with advaita as expounded by Shankara and eternal distinction between the individual self and "the absolute" or "the Lord" see: Flood (1996), p. 247. As explained by Gavin Flood:
DVAITA PHILOSOPHY Madhvacharya espoused a Vaishnava Theology that understands Brahman to be endowed with attributes and a personal God, Vishnu . By Brahman , he referred to Vishnu, as per his statement "brahmashabdashcha vishhnaveva" that Brahman can only refer to Vishnu . Madhvacharya states that Vishnu is not just any other Deity , but is rather the singular, all-important and supreme one. Vishnu is always the primary object of worship, and all others are regarded as subordinate to Him. The deities and other sentient beings are graded among themselves, with Vayu , the god of life, being the highest, and Vishnu is eternally above them. While each thing is unique, dvaita philosophy notes five categories of difference (''bheda''):For the five categories of bheda, see: Flood (1996), p. 246.
Despite these differences, The Dvaita doctrine was summarized by Vyasa Tirtha as comprising nine tenets or prameyas.http://www.dvaita.org/shaastra/prameya.shtml TARATAMYA - SPIRITUAL HIERARCHY In this regard Dvaita is distinct from other Hindu movements. Vishnu is accorded supreme status and Lakshmi is his consort. Brahma and Vayu come the next level with both on the same level. Their wives (Saraswati and Bharati) occupy the next level. Garuda, Shesha, Shiva, Indra, Kama, Surya, Chandra, Varuna, Nala, Vignesh and others occupy the succeedingly lower hierarchy. Madhvacharya taught that the life in the world can be divided into two groups Kshara and Akshara. Kshara refers to life with destructible bodies while Akshara have indestructible body. Laxmi is Akshara while others from Brahma and so on are Ksharas or Jeevas. Vishnu doesn't have a body that is made up of Prakriti. So he is exempted from this classification. ONTOLOGY The basic tenet of Madhva philosophy is the existence of two kinds of realities, independent and dependent.
In general, Madhvacharya's important message is that every word, every sound in this entire universe only means God which he equated with Vishnu . According to Madhva, only Brahman is independent in every sense of the word.
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 , i.e., God's grace 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: |
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