Shri Madhvacharya,(1238-1317), was the chief propounder of the Dvaita or dualistic school of Hindu philosophy, one of the three influential Vedanta philosophies. He was one of the influential philosophers during the Bhakti movement. Madhvacharya is believed to be the third incarnation of Vayu, after Hanuman and Bhima.

Formative Years

Shri Madhvacharya was born as Vasudeva to Madhyageha Bhatta (father) and Vedavati (mother) at Pajaka in Udupi.

Dvaita Philosophy

Shri Madhvacharya, like Ramanuja believed that the Brahman was endowed with attributes and is a personal God, Vishnu. By Brahman, he referred to the infinite, immanent and transcendent Utimate Reality and not the sub-caste.

Dvaita, or Dualistic philosophy, also known as Bheda-v�da, Tattva-v�da, and Bimba-pratibimba-v�da, is the doctrine propounded by Ananda T�rtha (also known as Madhvacharya) that asserts that the difference between the individual soul or j�va, and God,(�shvara or Vishnu), is eternal and real. Actually, this is just one of the five differences that are so stated -- all five differences that constitute the universe are eternal.

Five Differences

• The five are given by:

jiiveshvara bhidA chaiva jaDeshvara bhidA tathA |
jiiva-bhedo mithashchaiva jaDa-jiiva-bhidA tathA |
mithashcha jaDa-bhedo.ayam prapaJNcho bheda-pa.nchakaH ||
- paramashruti

"The difference between the j�va (soul) and �shvara (Creator), and the difference between jaDa (insentient) and �shvara; and the difference between various j�vas, and the difference between jaDa and j�va; and the difference between various jaDas, these five differences make up the universe." From the Paramopanishad a.k.a. Parama-shruti, as quoted by Ananda T�rtha in his 'VishNu-tattva-vinirNaya'

Another way of saying this is that these five fundamental differences are between: Brahman and matter, Brahman and Selves, Selves, a Self and another Self, and one object and another

This is the reason why some refer to the doctrine of Tattvav�da (the preferred name) as 'Dvaita'. However, 'Dvaita' is thought to be inadequately representative of the true grain of Tattvav�da.

The doctrine of Tattvav�da is considered to be eternal (in a flow-like sense, just as Creation is eternal); in historical times, it was revived by Ananda T�rtha, who is also known as Madhv�ch�rya. Because of this, followers of Tattvav�da are called M�dhvas, meaning followers of Madhva.

Souls are not generated from God.

• In Madhavacharaya's beliefs, souls are eternal but are not created by God, as in other systems of Vedanta or as in the Semitic religions. The souls are dependent, not generated by Vishnu but co-exist with Him eternally, supported by His will and entirely controlled by Him. The souls, however, are dependent on Him in their pristine nature and in all transformation that they may undergo.

Three Classes of Souls and Eternal Damnation

• Additionally, Madhvacharya differed significantly from traditional Hindu beliefs in his concept of eternal damnation. For example, he divides souls into three classes, one class which qualify for liberation, Mukti-yogyas, another subject to eternal rebirth or eternally transmigrating due to samsara, Nitya-samsarins, and significantly, a class that is eventually condemned to eternal hell or Naraka, known as Tamo-yogyas. No other Hindu philosopher or group of Hinduism holds such beliefs as it is believed that souls will eventually obtain moksha, even after millions of rebirths.

Madhvacharya's Theology as an Answer to the Eternal Problem of Evil

• By following the concepts of souls not being created by God and classification of the souls, Madhvacharya attempts to answer the problem of evil by seeking a root cause for the variations in quality of karma, good and bad alike.

Impact of Dvaita Movement

• Madhva's Dualistic view, along with Shankara's Advaita or Nondualism and Ramanuja's Qualified Nondualism,or Vishishtadvaita form some core Indian beliefs on the nature of reality.

• Madhva is considered to be one of the influential theologians in Hindu history. He revitalized an Hindu monotheism in light of attacks, theological and physical, by foreign invasion. Great leaders of the Vaishnava Bhakti movement, in Karnataka, for example, Purandara Dasa and Kanaka Dasa were influenced by Dvaita traditions. Also, the famous Hindu saint, Raghavendra Swami, was a leading figure in the Dvaita tradition.

• Like all acharayas, he was critical of the caste system.
• He believed that caste was related more to one's nature than his/her birth.

Religious establishments

The Main Krishna vigraha in Udupi was established by Madhvacharya. The 8 mathas (ashTa mathas) of Udupi have been following his philosophy since then.

Related Links

Biographical Articles

• http://www.kamat.com/indica/faiths/bhakti/madhwacharya.htm
• http://www.dlshq.org/saints/madhva.htm Biography of Madhva
• http://www.sanskrit.org/Madhva/madhva.html
• Raghavendra Swami Mutt features biography of Madhva. (http://www.srsmutt.org/)
• Udupi pages on Madhva. (http://www.udupipages.com/temple/madva.html)
• http://home.att.net/%7Es-prasad/madhva.htm

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