Madhvacharya

Jagadguru Madhvacharya

File:Madhva8.jpg

Madhva8

Udupi Sri Krishna Matha Temple

Madhvacharya (c. 1238–1317 CE), also known as Purna Prajna and Ananda Tirtha, was an Indian philosopher and the chief proponent of the Dvaita (dualism) school of Vedanta. He was born in a village called Pajaka near Udupi, in present-day Karnataka, India. Madhvacharya's Dvaita Vedanta is a theistic interpretation of the Vedas, emphasizing a distinction between the individual soul (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman). His teachings and writings on the nature of God, the individual soul, and the material world have significantly influenced the Bhakti movement and have led to the establishment of the Udupi Krishna Temple.

Life

Madhvacharya was born to Narayana Bhatta and Vedavati in a village called Pajaka. The exact date of his birth is a matter of debate, but it is generally placed around 1238 CE. From a young age, he showed an inclination towards spiritual and religious matters. He was ordained into the ascetic life at the age of 12 and was given the name Ananda Tirtha. Madhvacharya traveled extensively throughout India, engaging in philosophical debates with scholars of different traditions. His pilgrimages to places like Badrinath are well documented, and he is said to have visited the Himalayas twice.

Philosophy

Madhvacharya's philosophy of Dvaita or dualism contrasts with the non-dualistic (Advaita Vedanta) interpretation of Vedanta propounded by Adi Shankaracharya. Madhvacharya argued that the world is real and not an illusion, as stated in Advaita Vedanta. He posited five fundamental differences: between God and individual souls, between God and inert matter, between individual souls, between matter and individual souls, and between different pieces of matter. This philosophy laid the groundwork for a structured theological framework that emphasized the personal aspect of God, paving the way for a devotional approach to spirituality.

Works

Madhvacharya was a prolific writer, and his works include commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Rigveda. His writings also include original works such as Anu Vyakhyana (a commentary on the Brahma Sutras), Madhva Vijaya (a hagiography of Madhvacharya), and several other important texts that form the core of the Dvaita Vedanta tradition.

Legacy

Madhvacharya's teachings have had a profound impact on Hindu philosophy and religion. He established the Krishna temple in Udupi, which became a center of pilgrimage and an institutional hub for the Dvaita philosophical tradition. His followers, known as Madhvas, continue to be an influential community in India, particularly in Karnataka. The Haridasa devotional movement, which played a significant role in the Bhakti movement in Karnataka, was inspired by Madhvacharya's emphasis on devotion (Bhakti) to Vishnu.

See Also

• Vedanta
• Hindu philosophy
• Indian philosophy