Philosophy of Sri Madhvacarya

by B.N.K.Sharma

About the Book:

The volume is a good presentation of the philosophy of Sri Madhvacarya, complete in its architectonic unity. The author probes its ontological and epistemological foundations, and critcally examines the structure erected on them. The discussion focuses on crucial doctrines of theism, and brings to light for the first time the striking parallelisms of thought between Madhva and his Western contemporary St. Thomas Aquinas. Light is also thrown on how Madhva and his commentators anticipated the views of modern philosophers like Spencer, Russell and Hobhouse on the nature of time, space and memory. The latest researches on Madhvacarya's role in the Vedantic Bhakti movement and his attempt to harmonize the Upanisadic texts on monism and dualism are substantially drawn upon.

In the wide spectrum of Vedanta philosophy the dualistic school represented by Madhvacarya occupies a unique position of independence. It stands in direct opposition to Sankara`s non dualistic monism and rejects outright the theory of maya or mithyatva, i.e. non reality of the world. It is singularly distinct from Ramanuja`s school of qualified monism which hints at a synthesis between the extreme polarities of dualism and monism. Madhva`s dualism is umcompromising and unrelenting and yet offers an integral philosophy of life men and women at all levels.

About the Author:

B.N.K. Sharma obtained his Master`s degree in sanskrit and Ph.D. from the University of Madras. Dr. Sharma is one of the foremost exponents of Madhvacarya`s school of dualistic Vedanta. He has translated Madhvacarya`s Gita-Bhasya from sanskrit into English.Dr. Sharma is the recipient of the President of India`s award for eminent sanskrit scholars in 1992 and the government of Maharashtra`s Award for sanskrit and the prestigious Sri Vidyamanya Prasasti of the Purnaprajna Pratisthana in 1996.