Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies (Volume XV)

by Karl H. Potter and M.M. Agrawal

All too frequently the term Vedanta is used when what is meant ,whether recognized or not, is Advaita Vedanta and more specifically, the philosophical system associated with Sankaracarya. Yet in fact Vedanta, literally meaning “the concluding portions of the Veda” i.e ., the Upanisads, is properly used in Indian Philosophy to designate those systems that take such texts as the Upanisads authoritatively alongwith a few others such as the Brahmasutras, alternatively known as the Vedantasutras. There are a goodly number of Philosophical systems, other than Sankara’s that fall into the classification of Vedanta systems, many of them virtually unknown to most students.

 

Karl H. Potter  is Professor of Philosophy and South Asian Studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, and is the General Editor of the Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. Series containing 28 volumes. 

M.M. Agarawal is Professor in Sanskrit at University of Delhi. He is an author of many books and has contributed several papers and articles in Indian  and abroad. His main contribution lies in the field of poetics and Vaisnava Philosophy. There are six works related with these topics – Bhava-prakasanam of Saradatanaya (awarded with special prize by Sanskrit Academy, Lucknow), Rasarnavalankara , Rasavarupanirupanam Brahmasutra – nimbarakhasya with three commentaries, viz., Vedanta – Kaustubha Vedanta – Kaustubhaprabha and Bhavadipika (in 4 vols) , and the Philosophy of Nimbarka (awarded by Sanskrit Sahitya Parishad, Calcutta) Apart from these his other outstanding books are – Essence of Vaisnavism (Sophia Indological Series No. 5), Aspects of Indian Philosophy, Srimadbhagavadgita with the commentary Gudharthadipika of Madhusudana Saraswati (in 2 vols), Six Systems of Indian Philosophy, and Sarvadarsanasangraha of madhvacarya.