View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by e-journal Institut Hindu Dharma Negeri Denpasar Vol. 4 No. 2 October 2020 THE THOUGHTS ON DIVINITY PHILOSOPHY OF MADHVĀCARYA By: Jiraporn Chano1, Ni Kadek Surpi2 1Faculty of Education, Mahasarakham University, 2 Universitas Hindu Negeri I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa Denpasar E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Received: October 10, 2020 Accepted: October 11, 2020 Published: October 31, 2020 Abstract Mādhva's thought had a strong influence on Vaiṣṇava philosophy. Madhva enforces the Dvaita system that has significantly contributed to the study of Vedanta. The Aṇubhāṣya is his short treatise reflecting his interpretation of the Brahma Sūtra explaining his position of thought. In his primary doctrine of Divinity philosophy, he affirms the status of Brahman (the impersonal absolute), and the ātman (individual self) is dvaita (dual), and according to him that this is the position found in the Vedas. Direct examination of the written texts provides a holistic understanding of how Mādhva thought of Brahman ontology and reveals the mystical veil that he received direct guidance from Vyāsa, the author of the Brahma Sūtra and Vedas. This paper also provides an overview of Mādhva's philosophical and theological position of thought. Keywords: Mādhva, Aṇubhāṣya, Vedānta 250 Vol. 4 No.2 October 2020 I. INTRODUCTION BC, the discourse about God has a perfect Brahma Sutras, Vedanta's major place. In Hinduism, debates and treatise, is generally referred to as the discussions about God are even carried out knowledge of divinity. Discussion of by Sages, Ācārya from ancient times divinity is the primary and essential (Surpi, 2019b) aspects of Vedanta. Knowledge of divine While natural theology and philosophy is included in the jñanakanda philosophical theology are not section. Generally, Vedic knowledge is synonymous, we can establish two divided into two parts, namely correlations between them. From a karmakanda and jñanakanda, the first historical point of view, the first species of relating part of the ceremony, while the rational theology can be considered a second contains the knowledge of the narrow circle that could, in some sense, fit Vedas itself. The final section is also into a second one. But there is a known as Vedanta, the end of the Veda. 'qualitative' difference between the two What is included in it is not mere theologies besides being 'quantitative.' speculation but a record of the sages' The main reason is that its philosophical spiritual experiences over the centuries— particularity is more appropriate for a real realization or understanding of the methodological reflection than other Supreme Consciousness (Vireśvarānanda, species of rational theology (including 2002). Brahma-Sūtra from Bādarāyana or fundamental theology, along with natural traditionally known as Vyasa, commented theology) responsible predominantly for by Madhva, the theorist of dualism (Surpi defending coherence and advantages of et al., 2020). Brahman's belief can only be theistic world-explanation and repudiation known through texts and not through of opposing views (Shokhin, 2016) thought patterns (Saha, 2019). But among This paper provides a theo- themselves, they differ regarding philosophical view of Madhva's thought Brahman's nature, the natural cause of its that reconciles the claims of revelation and relationship with the universe, the reason, through his Aṇubhāṣya work, relationship of the individual spirit to Him, Madhva's line of reasoning shows that he and the state of spirit at the time of is not an apological religious scientist and liberation. is blindly submissive to the existence of Claims revelation and reason have sacred texts. This notion gives the view led to polarization, theology, and that faith and reason can be aligned for philosophy. Vaiṣṇava system holds that advancing human thinking on religion, both are essential and mutually supportive, philosophy, and devotion. so Vedānta is called a theo-philosophy (Surpi et al., 2020). (Surpi, 2019a) quotes II. METHOD the opinion of Anthony Kenny (1994), it This article examines the cannot be denied that the problematics of interpretation of Mādhva's thoughts, divinity is the "core" as well as the "life" of the existence of a religion. The meaning which is reviewed from various Mādhva of God's presence for human life is so works. The assessment is carried out on essential that perceptions of Him become the text using a qualitative method that a never-ending study. In Augustine's view considers the depth dimension. and other medieval philosophers that faith Interpretation is carried out following Paul seeks understanding, Fides quaerens Ricoeur's theory of interpretation by intellectum, which means that faith is not analyzing data according to the inconsequential, is not blind. That is, Ethnographic Content Analysis (ECA) having faith in God means continuing to pattern of content analysis. find out about God. In Vedic civilization, for hundreds or even thousands of years 251 Vol. 4 No.2 October 2020 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION manifested from within a piece of gopi- Knowledge of Sri Madhvācarya's candana (holy clay). life (1238-1317) sourced from The Madhva and Gaudiya systems Madhvavijaya, a Sanskrit-language works share many philosophical points in written by Narayana Pandita common. Both of them deemed it (Tapasyānanda, 2010). He was born in necessary to yield to the lotus feet of the 1238 AD and lived for seventy-nine years. guru (gurupadashraya). In the Bhasya Meanwhile, (Dasgupta, 2011) quoted Sutra, Madhvacharya quotes Brihat Tantra Bhandarkar's opinion that Madhva was and Mahasamhita to show that a disciple born in Saka 1119 and lived for 79 years. may reject a "false teacher" who may Śri Madhvācārya is believed to be prove useless. He was then able to accept born in 1238 AD near Udupi, Karnataka in other people who realized himself as a South India is regarded as an incarnation teacher. At Prameya-ratnavalli, Śri of Vayu (wind god). He has a healthy Baladeva Vidyabhushana summarizes the physique and extraordinary intellectual same nine principles for the teachings of strength. Śri Madhvācārya took diksha Śri Chaitanya and Madhva. At the (initiation to lead a spiritual life) at the age Vaiṣṇava Siddhanta Mala, Shrila of five, sannyasa (the highest spiritual Bhaktivinoda Thakura said Śri Chaitanya stage of renunciation) at age twelve, and Mahaprabhu ordered all Vaiṣṇava left home. He came up with a mission to Gaudiya to carefully obey the nine counter and defeat the Mayavada Sankara instructions of truth given by Śri (impersonal) philosophy by providing a Madhvācārya through the parampara pure interpretation of the Vedanta-sutra, guru. Śri Madhvācārya is also known by promoting pure theism. After three other names, Vāsudeva Pūrṇaprajña Sankaracharya, who had previously and Ānandatīrtha, whose life apart from visited India spreading impersonalism, lecturing also wrote many books. Madhva Madhvācārya also traveled India's length left 37 works in total, including (1) the and breadth to preach personalism and Daśaprakaraṇas or ten philosophical devotion to Lord Viṣṇu. He defeated the monographs describing logic and Jains, Buddhists, Mayavadis, atheists, metaphysics, (2) comments on the 10 logic, and agnostics countless. In the hope Upanisads, (3) also comments on the Gita of meeting Srila Vyasadeva herself, and Brahmasutra, (4) brief comments on Madhvācārya ascended the Himalayas. the first three adhyaya of Rg. Veda, as a Vyasadeva gave him the Shalagrama Sila symbol (5) of other works consisting of named Ashtamurti, approved of his Stotra, Poetry, and works in the field of Bhagavad-gita commentary, and blessed worship and ritual. His major work is the Madhvacharya with a more profound Anu-vyākhyāna, an expository critique of realization of his literature. (Stoker, 2007). philosophy in the Brahma-Sutra. It's a The Sampradaya Gaudiya Vaiṣṇava had a metric work, a masterpiece—Jayatirta lot of influence from Madhva's teachings. comments on this work in his famous work Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his Nyāya-Sudhā (Sharma, 1962:xii). followers did study Madhva's work before Śri Madhvācārya developed a compiling their philosophy. Jiva Goswami philosophical system derived from the discovered the 'Gaudiya philosophy of praṣṭhana traya, namely the Upaniṣad, tattva acintya-bheda-abheda in Madhva Bhagavad Gītā dan Brahma-Sutra which Bhagavat-parya. Sri Chaitanya himself are the Dvaita or Dualist infinite visited Udupi, the center of Madhva philosophical systems of Madhva teachings. In Udupi, Madhvacharya had Vaiṣṇavism called Ûaḍ-Vaiṣṇavisme to the beautiful Lord Gopala standing alone, distinguish Śri Vaiṣṇavisme from holding a shepherding staff. This deity was Rāmānuja. Madhvācārya 's brilliant thought was to make an absolute 252 Vol. 4 No.2 October 2020 distinction between God, both moving and lot to nourish the Dharma teachings with immovable objects, and God alone, who is his teachings, Madhva gathered his an independent reality. The objects that are disciples. He warmly recounted his in motion and that which do not move are favorite Upanishad, Aitareya, as the unfree realities. Madhva's Vedanta is a curtain fell, with a shower of flowers from teaching of absolute difference, namely an the hierarchy of Gods. Sri Madhva's body Atyanta-bheda-Darśana, which affirms and soul disappears, forever (Char, the five significant differences (Pañca- 1909:2016). "By devotion, mediate bheda). Namely