An Introduction to Madhva Vedan

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by Deepak Sarma


  3 [Why?] Recognizing ‘this is [all] in a dream’ one does not labor to

  [give away one’s] monetary inheritance to the dream-son. [Similarly,

  why would one bother to teach one’s students when they are merely

  products of one’s own imagination?]

  4 But, unaware of being in a dream, he may labor [in this way] in the

  dream itself.

  5 Given that many [people] are seen [and they all might be dreaming],

  it is not possible to have a firm conviction as to whose dream it is.

  6 But in dream[s,] it is certain [that] after awaking, [only] one [person,

  namely the dreamer,] remains.

  7 Here, [in this case,] it is not possible [to be certain about who is the

  dreamer and who is being dreamed].

  8 It is also impossible that reality is to be conceived of as imaginary by

  each [individual jîva]. These alternatives cannot arise [as possibilities]

  [One can only conclude that] there would be no imagination in reality.

  124

  Saüvâda , Discussion and Debate

  111

  9 Moreover, there is no pramâõa, means for valid knowledge,

  [showing] that it [that is, reality] is to be conceived [of as imagination by

  each and every jîva].

  10 [If] the imagination [derives from] the ignorance of the student,

  then when [the student] becomes a teacher, he himself [becomes the

  product of] imagination! Learning properly [from] the books [that is,

  sacred texts] would be disastrous!

  11 No one would be able to attain mokùa. When one learns the texts,

  then one [becomes a teacher and] suffers [becoming the product] of the

  student’s imagination!

  12 If one jîva was a bhedavâdin, one who follows the view [that

  there is a] difference [between the jîva and brahman], then there is a confirmation of it [that is, difference]. There is never an elimination of

  difference and, [therefore,] no one would attain mokùa.

  13 By this [reasoning], whatever is imagined [by this one jîva], that is

  [reality]. When those following ekajîvavâda, the view that there is only

  one [ jîva], are imagined to be in eternal Hell, then this would be so!

  14 [From these arguments, it follows that] there is no proof

  whatsoever that everything is a [product] of the imagination of one jîva.

  Other debates

  The arguments found in these texts are a fraction of a vast corpus of

  texts. Most are only available in Sanskrit but there are a few that

  have been translated into English and are readily available. These

  include Gerow’s translation of Viùõudâsâcarya’s Vâdaratnâvalî, Betty’s

  translation of Vâdirâja’s Nyâyaratnâvalî and Sarma’s translation of

  portions of Vyâsatîrtha’s Tâtparyacandrikâ.

  125

  APPENDIX A

  Pramâõas, tattva and anitya – tables

  126

  nitya

  Vedas

  ùads

  âgama

  Upani

  çti

  Atharva

  tvak

  sm

  Anu

  sparúa

  nityânitya

  õyakas

  anumâna

  otra

  Sûtras

  Sâma

  ra

  úr

  úabda

  ùa

  ùus

  Brahma

  Yajur

  pratyak

  cak

  rûpa

  þmanas

  Brâ

  gè

  rasana

  rasa

  õa

  Vedas

  õas

  ghrâ

  gandha

  Mânava-dharma-úâstra

  Pramâ

  manas

  õas

  ùî

  Purâ

  sâk

  õa

  Râmâya

  ayogi

  ayogins

  yogi

  Mahâbhârata

  tattvika

  õas

  ùmî

  Pramâ

  Kevala

  Lak

  çju

  Tantras

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  Îúa

  Table

  127

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  129

  APPENDIX B

  Detailed outline of contents

  Chapter One: Madhvâcârya and the Mâdhva tradition

  Basic theological issues

  Sources

  Education

  Political environment and patronage

  Religious context

  stika traditions: Vedânta

  Two non-Vedânta traditions: Vîraúaivism and Jainism

  Tribal and other indigenous traditions

  The Mâdhva saüpradâya, community and institutions

  The contemporary Mâdhva community

  Madhvâcârya’s works: the Sarvamûlagranthâþ, Compendium of All the

  Fundamentals

  Other relevant Mâdhva works

  Theory and practice

  Chapter Two: Mâdhva epistemology

  Pramâõa, the means of valid knowledge

  Kevala-pramâõa, direct knowledge of an object as it is

  Anu-pramâõa, indirect knowledge

  Anu-pramâõas: pratyakùa, perception

  Smçti, memory

  The sâkùî

  Anu-pramâõas: anumâna, defectless inference

  The structure of the inference according to the Nyâya School

  Madhvâcârya’s analysis of defectless inference

  Tarka-doùas, logical errors

  Anu-pramâõas: âgama, defectless sentences and/or texts

  Apauruùeya-âgama, sentences and texts not having human

  authorship

  Pauruùeya-âgama, sentences and texts having human authorship

  Mohaúâstra, the confusing texts

  Pratyakùa vs. âgama vs. anumâna

  116

  130

  Appendix B: Detailed Outline of Contents

  117

  Khyâti-vâdas, theories of false cognition

  Anirvâcanîya-khyâti, the theory that the ontological status of the

  object of a false cognition is indescribable

  Anyathâ-khyâti, the theory that false cognition is k
nowing

  [something] as otherwise

  Madhvâcârya’s abhinava-anyathâ-khyâti, the new theory that false

  cognition is knowing [something] as otherwise

  Mâdhva realism

  Chapter Three: Mâdhva ontology

  Asvatantram, dependent entities

  Abhâva, non-existent entities

  Bhâva, existent entities

  Cetanas, sentient beings

  Acentanas, non-sentient entities

  Svatantra, the only independent entity: Viùõu

  Sadâgamaikavijñeyaü, one who can be known only via the true

  âgamas

  Viùõu is brahman, divinity

  Viùõu is saguõa, having attributes

  Viùõu’s vyûhas, emanations, and avatâras, incarnations

  Madhvâcârya’s mitigated monotheism

  Subject and attribute

  Viúeùas, distinguishing properties

  Bhedasâdhanam, establishing difference

  Chapter Four: Mâdhva soteriology

  The jîva, enduring self

  Bandha, bondage

  Bimba-pratimba-vâda, theory of reflection

  Kartçtva, agency, svarûpatraividhya, predestination, and karma

  Adhikâra, eligibility

  The path to mokùa, liberation

  Karma-yoga, the path via action and ritual

  Jñâna-yoga, the path via knowledge

  Bhakti-yoga, the path via devotion

  Prasâda, grace

  Guru-prasâda, grace of the teacher

  131

  118

  An Introduction to Mâdhva Vedânta

  Madhvâcârya-Vâyu as guru

  Viùõu- prasâda, grace of Viùõu

  Aparokùa-jñâna, unmediated knowledge, of Viùõu

  Mokùa, liberation

  Chapter Five: Saüvâda, discussion and debate

  Mâdhva Vedânta and its rivals

  Texts

  Kathâlakùaõa, The Characterization of Dispute

  The Mâyâvâdakhaõóana: The Refutation of the Mâyâ Position

  Madhvâcârya’s Upâdhikhaõóanam, The Refutation of the [Concept

  of] the Limiting Adjunct

  Viùõutattva(vi)nirõaya, The Complete Ascertainment of the Nature of

  Viùõu: ekajîvavâda, the view that there is only one [ jîva]

  Other debates

  132

  APPENDIX C

  Glossary

  abhâva: non-existent entities, there are three types: prâg, pradhvaüsa and sadâ

  abhavya: those jîvas, according to the Jains, lacking the capability to achieve nirvâõa

  abheda: non-different, identical

  abhinava-anyathâ-khyâti-vâda: Madhvâcârya’s new theory that false

  cognition is knowing [something] as otherwise

  âcârya: teacher

  acetana: non-sentient entities, there are three types: nitya, anitya and nityânitya

  adharma: against duty, the order and law of the universe, unlawful

  activities

  adhika: superfluity, a reason for defeat in a debate

  adhikâra: eligibility

  adhikâri: one who is eligible, a qualified aspirant

  Advaita Vedânta: non-dualism, the name of a school of Vedânta founded

  by Úaükarâcârya

  âgama: scriptural authority and verbal testimony

  agni: fire, one of the pañca-bhûtas

  Agni: the god of fire

  ahaükâra: ‘I’-ness, egotism, the organ that produces self-consciousness

  ajñâna: ignorance

  âkâúa: ether, one of the pañca-bhûtas

  alaukika: super-normal sense relation intrinsic to Nyâya khyâti-vâda

  aüúas: divisions

  ânanda: bliss

  ânanda-târatamya-vâda: Madhvâcârya’s view that there are degrees of

  bliss in mokùa

  Anatrikùa-loka: the Intermediate Region, a place in mokùa

  anavasthâ: an infinite regress, a tarka-doùa

  Andhatâmisro: [Place of] Complete Darkness, one of the Hells

  aõgula: a measure that is the breadth of one finger

  Aniruddha: son of Pradyumna and grandson of Kçùõa, one of the vyûhas

 

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