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Philosophy

Philosophy

Section titled “Philosophy”

2020-04-26 19:29:05

Philosophical Underpinning of South Indian Bhakti

Section titled “Philosophical Underpinning of South Indian Bhakti”
  • Vaishnava Acharyas interpreted the philosophical aspect of Alvar Bhakti

Nathamuni Founded the Shrivaishnava Sect 10th-11th Cen

Section titled “Nathamuni Founded the Shrivaishnava Sect 10th-11th Cen”
  • Lived in Shrirangam
  • Wrote Nyaytattava -> idea of prapatti -> complete surrender to the god
  • Other influential Srivaishnava acharyas were Yamunacharya, Ramanuja and Madhva

Ramanuja

Section titled “Ramanuja”
  • Persecuted by Chola king who was devotee of Shiva, refuge under Hoysala
  • @ Wrote works like Vedantasara, Vedarthsamgraha, Vedantadipa
    • Commentaries on Bhagavad Gita and Brahmasutra

![[#Ramanuja and Vishisthadvaitha]]

Madhva

Section titled “Madhva”

Shaiva Siddhanta

Section titled “Shaiva Siddhanta”
  • @ Gave explained the philosophical underpinning of Shiva bhakti
  • Exponents were Meyakandadeva, Arulnanadi Shivacharya, Marai Jnanan Sambandhar and Umapati Shivacharya.
  • Meyakanda wrote Shivajnanabodham - basic doctrines

Virashaiva or Lingayat Movement

Section titled “Virashaiva or Lingayat Movement”
  • Karanataka 12th century
  • important strand of Bhakti
  • ! Leadership largely Brahman also comprised of artisans, traders and farmers
  • Anti-caste and anti-brahmanical preached egalitarianism
  • Rejected Vedic tradition, sacrifices, rituals, social customs, and superstitions
  • Propagated ahimsa but critiqued Jainism
  • Renuka, Daruka, Ghantakarna, Dhenukarna and Vishvakarna, Akka Mahadevi are imp teachers
  • Worshippers wear a linga/ ishta-linga
  • $ Core ideas composed in lyrics known as vachanas composed by saints

Basavanna

Section titled “Basavanna”
  • 12th century Kannada poet philosopher under King Bijjala I of Kalachuri dynasty.
  • was against discrimination, superstition and stood for socio economic upliftment and reform.
  • Followed Shaivism and presided **Sharana movement,
  • ! introduced Anubhava Mandapa (hall of spiritual experience)
    • Poetry called Vachana.

Shankaracharya and Vedanta

Section titled “Shankaracharya and Vedanta”

2020-04-27 12:12:28

  • Born in Kalladi in Kerala came to north India after completing education
  • He was disciple of Govindacharya and estd ritual practices at Badrinath and Kedarnath dhams.
  • ! Commentaries on Upanishads, Bhagavata Gita called Bhasya and Brahma Sutra including Vivekachudamani, Maneesha Pachakam and Saundaryalahari.
    • Wrote hymns for Shiva, Vishnu and Devi
  • purged the objectionable features of devi worship brought by Tantricism
    • Introduced Samachara worship
    • Wrote Saundarya Lahari in praise
  • $ Vedanta aka Uttara mimansa is a monistic (one basic principle) school of philosophy that believes the world is unreal (maya) and there is only one reality the Brahman.
  • Was exponent of Advaita Vedanta philosophy or Non Dualist
    • Soul is not diff from Brahman
    • Each individual can achieve Brahman
    • one essential principle that is Brahman and everything else is an expression of the same
    • Brahmana is without qualities (nirguna), pure consciousness, eternal and unchanging.
    • 2 types of reality conventional and absolute
    • Goal is liberation from cycle of rebirth, realisation of oneness of atman with brahman
  • @ ignorance what makes us feel separate from ultimate and asked to search for Brahman within themselves
  • Not a theistic philosophical system
  • @ approved of caste system as being a rep of collective experience and wisdom
  • believed that individual soul is imperfect manifestation of perfect soul shows his idealist and a realist nature
  • preached Jnana Yoga as the path to attain knowledge and self-realisation
  • Called for negation of the world, withdrawal from normal activities, self-sacrifice as principle value of human life
  • ! Travelled throughout India and established 4 maths
    • ! Shringeri in Karnataka
    • ! Dwarka in Gujarat
    • ! Puri in Orissa
    • ! Badrinath in Uttarakhand
  • Wanted to bring whole country into one umbrella
  • @ inculcated the Buddhist manifestation of the physical world as being Maya into his own Vedanta philosophy.
    • Was called Prachanna Budda or disguised Buddhist due to this
    • Key factor that led to decline of Buddhism in India
  • Supposed to have founded Dashnami sect established 4/5 mathas known as Amanaya mathas
  • His ideas have influenced many modern figures like Vivekananda, Gandhiji and Nehru
  • Impact of his philosophy

Ramanuja and Vishisthadvaitha

Section titled “Ramanuja and Vishisthadvaitha”

2020-04-27 12:14:52

  • Born in Sriperumbudur, lived in Kanchipuram.
  • initial guru Yadava Prakasa, scholar of Advaita Vendanta
    • % R - Yadava Prakasha split due to disagreement on interpretation of Upanishads
  • Proponent of Vishishtadvaita/ qualified non-dualism philosophy and the Sri Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism.
  • ! Wrote commentaries on texts like Brahma Sutra and Bhagavata Gita in Sanskrit and Sri Bhasya.
  • intro importance of Bhakti, personal devotion to god in his philosophical theory
  • $ Vishista Advaita : distinction between Atman (soul) and Brahman (ultimate reality, has qualities or is saguna ) but there is unity between all souls; individual can achieve the ultimate reality.
  • Ishvara can be invoked through Bhakti. Brahman cannot exist without the atman like a red rose cannot live without redness
  • Accepted reliability of the Vedas as a source of knowledge
  • Criticised the Advaita philosophy to selectively interpret Upanishadic passages that support monistic interpretation and ignore those that support pluralism
  • Vishnu is the alone independent god and other gods are dependent on him
  • preached from the Ranganathswamy temple, took nation wide tours.
  • Organised network of temples based on Vishnu Laxmi worship

Madhava and Brahma Mimamsa

Section titled “Madhava and Brahma Mimamsa”

2020-04-27 12:15:11

  • ! book called Bharatatatparyanirnaya based on Puranas and epics
    • ! Madhava wrote commentaries on Brahmasutra and Upanishads,
  • Rejected the idea God was the cause for creation of world
  • God completely different from individual soul and world
  • Individual soul has many defects, can be removed by worshipping God
  • God-Soul is a link b/w master and servant

![[Madhava-and-Brahma-Mimamsa-image1-23474895.png]]

PYQs

Section titled “PYQs”

Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma Mimansa

  1. How did Sankaracharya seek to integrate the different religions cults in India? [1981, 20m]
  1. Write a short essay on: “Shankaracharya’s philosophy and its impact.” [1987, 20m]
  1. “Sankaracharya brought about a synthesis of ideas and philosophies.” Discuss the statement and analyse the historical significance of his life and thought. [1990, 60m]
  1. Write a short essay on: “The Vedanta of Sankaracharya” [2001, 20m]
  1. “The Advaita doctrine of Shankara cut at the very root of Bhaktivada.” Do you agree? [2016, 15 Marks]