Principles and Practice of Hindu Religion
Chapter - V : The Principles and the Philosophy

The Messages and Teachings of the Vedas and the Agamas
to gain the Divine Knowledge about the Universe and God
 
   
 
Lesson - 78 :
Dhvaitham and other Devotional Paths
The Universe remains Separate from God
 
 
 
 

 

 

From the ancient times, a system of religious thinking based on devotion to the Supreme Deity existed. The Bhakthi Schools worship a Personal God with devotion. The Bhakthi Schools worship a Personal God with devotion. Earlier the twelve Alvar saints, whose works were known as "Nalayira Prabhandam", a series of four thousand Tamil poems, strengthened the Bhakthi movement in South India. They were mainly based on Bhakthi concept. Sri Natha Muni raised the Prabandha to the levels of Vedas. Sri Yamunacharya laid the foundation to build the philosophy. According to Sri Sankara, Karma or path of action and Bhakthi or the pathway of devotion are the means to attain the Jñana or the pathway of wisdom, realization and supreme knowledge which is liberation or Moksha. In Sri Ramanuja's teaching, Bhakthi Pathway is the ultimate to reach God in Svarga. According to this concept, Karma, the path of action or service, and Jñana, the path of wisdom and knowledge, are only means for the Bhakthi pathway. The final emancipation can come only through Bhakthi or devotion, total surrender or Saranaagathi and receiving the grace of the Lord.
 

Sri Madhvacharya postulated a dualistic system, Dvaitham, out of Upanishads, Bhadavat-Gita and Brahma Suthras; which is called the Prasthana Thraya. His Vaishnavism is called Sadh- Vaishnavism, while Sri Ramanuja's is known as Sri-Vaishnavism. Their systems have many points in common. In Sri Madhva's system, Hari or Vishnu is the Supreme being, also known as Narayana, who lives in Vaikunta or Svarga [Heaven] with His consort Lakshmi. The world is real and the difference is true. All Jivas are dependent on Hari. Bhakthi, without faults, is the means of attaining salvation. God is the only independent reality. Souls and world are dependent reality which are separate from Him. He is the efficient cause and not material cause. No two jivas are alike. The jivas are different from God and do not attain equality with God. They are entitled only to serve Him. The grace of Lord Narayana descends on those souls who are pure, devoid of all "Upaadhis". 
    
 
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Lessons: - 65, - 66, - 67, - 68, - 69, - 70, - 71, - 72, - 73, - 74, - 75, - 76, - 77, - 78, - 79, - 80.