VedÄntaāliterally meaning āthe end of the Vedasāāis the philosophical core of Indian spiritual thought. Rooted in the Upaniį¹£ads, Brahma SÅ«tras, and the Bhagavad GÄ«tÄ, VedÄnta has evolved through the insights of various revered spiritual teachers (ÄcÄryas) who established distinct schools of thought within the tradition.
In this guide, we explore six major Vedantic schools, all acknowledged in the Vaiį¹£į¹ava sampradÄya tradition, each offering a unique lens through which to view the eternal truths of existence.
š Comparative Overview
| School | Originator / ÄcÄrya | Time Period | Metaphysics | Supreme Brahman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advaita VedÄnta | ÅrÄ« Ädi Åaį¹ karÄcÄrya | ~8th century CE | Non-dualism ā only Brahman is real | Nirguį¹a Brahman |
| ViÅiį¹£į¹Ädvaita VedÄnta | ÅrÄ« RÄmÄnujÄcÄrya | 11thā12th century CE | Qualified non-dualism | Viį¹£į¹u / NÄrÄyaį¹a |
| Dvaita VedÄnta | ÅrÄ« MadhvÄcÄrya | 13th century CE | Dualism ā eternal difference | Viį¹£į¹u |
| BhedÄbheda VedÄnta | ÅrÄ« NimbÄrka, BhÄskara | 7thā13th century CE | Difference and non-difference | Viį¹£į¹u / Kį¹į¹£į¹a |
| ÅuddhÄdvaita VedÄnta | ÅrÄ« VallabhÄcÄrya | 15thā16th century CE | Pure non-dualism (Grace Path) | ÅrÄ« Kį¹į¹£į¹a |
| Achintya BhedÄbheda | ÅrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu | 15thā16th century CE | Inconceivable unity-in-difference | ÅrÄ« Kį¹į¹£į¹a |
š 1. Advaita VedÄnta ā Absolute Non-dualism
- Founder: ÅrÄ« Ädi Åaį¹ karÄcÄrya (c. 788ā820 CE)
- SampradÄya: Åankara ParamparÄ
- Core Idea: Only Brahman is real (satya); the world and the individual soul (jÄ«va) are ultimately illusory (mithyÄ).
- Key Scriptures:
- Tat tvam asi ā ChÄndogya Upaniį¹£ad 6.8.7
- Aham BrahmÄsmi ā Bį¹hadÄraį¹yaka Upaniį¹£ad 1.4.10
- Brahma SÅ«tra 1.1.4 ā Tattu samanvayÄt
š¤ Path: JƱÄna Yoga (knowledge and renunciation)
šÆ Goal: Liberation from mÄyÄ; merging into Brahman
šø 2. ViÅiį¹£į¹Ädvaita VedÄnta ā Qualified Non-dualism
- Founder: ÅrÄ« RÄmÄnujÄcÄrya (1017ā1137 CE)
- SampradÄya: ÅrÄ« SampradÄya (Lakį¹£mÄ« lineage)
- Core Idea: Brahman is one, with jÄ«vas and jagat as real parts (body) of NÄrÄyaį¹a. The soul remains individual yet inseparably connected.
- Key Scriptures:
- Sarvaį¹ khalvidaį¹ brahma ā ChÄndogya Upaniį¹£ad 3.14.1
- MamaivÄį¹Åo jÄ«va-loke ā Bhagavad GÄ«tÄ 15.7
- Brahma SÅ«tra 1.1.1 ā AthÄto brahma jijƱÄsÄ
š¤ Path: Bhakti with Åaraį¹Ägati (surrender)
šÆ Goal: Eternal service to NÄrÄyaį¹a in Vaikuį¹į¹ha
š± 3. Dvaita VedÄnta ā Dualism
- Founder: ÅrÄ« MadhvÄcÄrya (1238ā1317 CE)
- SampradÄya: Brahma SampradÄya
- Core Idea: There is an eternal distinction between jÄ«va, Brahman, and prakį¹ti (matter).
- Key Scriptures:
- Nityo nityÄnÄį¹ cetanaÅ cetanÄnÄm ā Kaį¹ha Upaniį¹£ad 2.2.13
- Mat-sthÄni sarva-bhÅ«tÄni ā Bhagavad GÄ«tÄ 9.4
- Doctrine of paƱca-bheda tattva ā fivefold eternal differences
š¤ Path: Bhakti and strict obedience to Viį¹£į¹u
šÆ Goal: Residence in Vaikuį¹į¹ha under Viį¹£į¹uās mercy
š„ 4. BhedÄbheda VedÄnta ā Difference and Non-difference
- Key Teachers: ÅrÄ« NimbÄrka (7th century CE), BhÄskara (8th century CE)
- SampradÄya: KumÄra SampradÄya
- Core Idea: The soul is both different and non-different from Brahman, emphasizing a harmony of oneness and diversity.
- Key Scriptures:
- YathÄ agneįø„ kį¹£udrÄ visphuliį¹ gÄ vyuccaranti ā Bį¹hadÄraį¹yaka Up. 2.1.20
- MamaivÄį¹Åaįø„ jÄ«va-loke ā Bhagavad GÄ«tÄ 15.7
š¤ Path: Balanced Bhakti with humility
šÆ Goal: Personal loving service to BhagavÄn
š¼ 5. ÅuddhÄdvaita VedÄnta ā Pure Non-dualism
- Founder: ÅrÄ« VallabhÄcÄrya (1479ā1531 CE)
- SampradÄya: Rudra SampradÄya
- Core Idea: Kį¹į¹£į¹a alone is real, and the world is His divine lÄ«lÄānot illusion. The soul is an expression of His bliss (Änanda), and grace (puį¹£į¹i) is central.
- Key Scriptures:
- Kį¹į¹£į¹as tu bhagavÄn svayam ā ÅrÄ«mad BhÄgavatam 1.3.28
- Sarvaį¹ khalvidaį¹ brahma ā ChÄndogya Upaniį¹£ad 3.14.1
- Philosophies elaborated in į¹¢oįøaÅa Grantha and SubodhinÄ«
š¤ Path: Bhakti through Divine Grace
šÆ Goal: Participate in Kį¹į¹£į¹aās lÄ«lÄ with intimacy
š¶ 6. Achintya BhedÄbheda VedÄnta ā Inconceivable Oneness and Difference
- Founder: ÅrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu (1486ā1534 CE)
- SampradÄya: Brahma-Madhva-GauįøÄ«ya SampradÄya
- Core Idea: The soul is inconceivably one and different from Kį¹į¹£į¹a. This paradox is realized only through bhakti, not logic.
- Key Scriptures:
- AcintyÄįø„ khalu ye bhÄvÄįø„ na tÄį¹s tarkeį¹a yojayet ā MahÄbhÄrata, BhÄ«į¹£ma Parva 5.22
- Vadanti tat tattva-vidas… advaya-jƱÄna ā ÅrÄ«mad BhÄgavatam 1.2.11
- Bhagavad GÄ«tÄ 9.4ā5 ā On immanence and transcendence
š¤ Path: RÄgÄnugÄ Bhakti ā Prema (spontaneous love)
šÆ Goal: Eternal loving service to ÅrÄ« Kį¹į¹£į¹a in Vraja
š Comparative Table (Extended)
| School | Supreme Brahman | JÄ«va-Brahman Relation | World Reality | Liberation Goal | Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advaita | Nirguį¹a Brahman | JÄ«va is Brahman | Illusory | Merging into Brahman | JƱÄna Yoga |
| ViÅiį¹£į¹Ädvaita | Viį¹£į¹u / NÄrÄyaį¹a | Part of Brahman | Real | Eternal service in Vaikuį¹į¹ha | Bhakti + Surrender |
| Dvaita | Viį¹£į¹u | Completely distinct | Real | Serve Viį¹£į¹u | Bhakti |
| BhedÄbheda | Viį¹£į¹u / Kį¹į¹£į¹a | Same & different | Real | Serve with retained identity | Bhakti |
| ÅuddhÄdvaita | Kį¹į¹£į¹a | Real part of lÄ«lÄ | Real & Divine | Enter His lÄ«lÄ | Bhakti + Grace |
| Achintya BhedÄbheda | Kį¹į¹£į¹a (Svayam BhagavÄn) | Inconceivably same & diff. | Real | Vraja-sevÄ in Prema | RÄgÄnugÄ Bhakti |
šŗ Conclusion
The beauty of VedÄnta lies not in rigid uniformity but in its profound diversity. From impersonal realization to the sweetest personal devotion, these philosophies reflect the depth and dynamism of SanÄtana Dharma.
By embracing and understanding these varied paths, we donāt merely learn about different philosophiesāwe grow in humility, tolerance, and spiritual insight. Let us celebrate this journey of knowledge, surrender, and love.