Ideology of Dvaita Vedanta philosophy

Dvaita Vedanta Philosophy

1. Introduction

• Dvaita Vedanta is another sub-school of Vedanta.
• Key question: What is the relationship between Jiva and Brahman?

2. Core Tenet: Absolute Difference

• Relationship between Jiva and Brahman is like A : B - completely different.
• Madhvacharya clearly establishes that the Jiva and the Brahman are entirely separate entities.
• Jiva is completely dependent upon Brahman.

3. Key Tenets of Dvaita Vedanta (Summarized in Seven Points)

• Vishnu is Supreme: Vishnu/Hari is the supreme reality and equal to Brahman.
  • Theistic form of Vedanta, similar to Ramanujacharya's.
• World is Real: The world is real (not Maya) unlike Shankaracharya's claims; the differences in the world are real.
• Five Types of Differences: Madhvacharya highlights the importance of difference by distinguishing five types:
  • Difference between Jiva and Ishwara.
  • Difference between Jiva and Jagat (everything in the world).
  • Difference between Jagat and Ishwara.
  • Difference between Jivas.
  • Difference between different Jagat entities.
• Servants of Hari: All Jivas are servants of Hari/Vishnu.
• Gradation of Beings: There is a hierarchy among Jivas.
  • Some are eternally bound to samsara (cycle of birth and death).
  • Some are eternally free from samsara.
  • Some can enter and leave the samsara cycle.
• Moksha is Realization of Bliss: Moksha is realizing the natural bliss (ananda) of the self and its true nature.
  • Every self has innate properties and ananda.
• Bhakti is the Path to Moksha: Bhakti (devotion) towards Lord Vishnu/Hari is the path to liberation.

4. The Samsara Chakra (Cycle of Birth and Death)

• How is the Jiva locked in the samsara chakra?
  • Ishwara causes the Jivas to be born in this cycle of samsara to become unaware of the relation between Jiva and Ishwara.
• Ishwara is the source of being in and out of this cycle.
• Prayer to Ishwara is very important for moksha.

5. Uniqueness of the Jiva

• Every Jiva is unique.
• The purpose of creation is to help Jiva realize its true nature (Swarupa).
• Each Jiva has a unique karma.
• After which the Jiva can realize its true nature.

6. Attributes of Ishwara

• Ishwara is Saguna - with attributes.
• Pictorial depictions of Vishnu embody this.

7. Realization of Ishwara through Bhakti

• Oneness is not in the Advaitic sense but realizing relation to Ishwara.
• Bhakti must be aided by karma and jnana.
• Engaging in Vedic rituals and studying Prasthanatraya (Brahma Sutra, Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads).