SRI MADHVACHARYA – HISTORY IN DIARY FORM!
(1) BIRTH: The available data are unclear. Two versions are there:
In one version, it is said that he took birth In 1238 A.D. in PAJAKA, near Udupi, Karnataka, India and left this world in the year 1317.
As per the another version of his birth and death periods, he took birth in 1199 and left this world in 1278.
(2) He Took sanyasa even in his teen age from Achyutapreksha, an ekadandi sanyasi guru from Brahma-sampradaya.
(FOUR SAMPRADHAYAS – ESSENTIAL DETAILS! READ HERE!)
(3) Though he studied in Advaita Vedanta School, he was not convinced with the non duality concept of Advaita.
(4) Madhvacharya criticized the Advaita Phylosophy and Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita Philosophy.
(5) He wrote many DVAITA books totalling 37 including Anuvyakhyana. Examples:
Thirteen Bhashyas for Upanishads; Brahma Sutras; Gita Bhashya; a commentary on forty hymns of Rig veda; a poetic review of the Mahabharatha, a commentary called Bhagavata-tatparya-nirnaya on Srimad Bhagavatham, etc
(6) He himself has said in his books that he is the avatar of Vayu bhagavan, son of Vishnu.
(7) He learnt Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, etc and travelled all over India to defeat many scholars in philosophical debates.
(8) Since Sri Madhvacharya had accepted an Advaita Guru, but was not convinced with the Advaita Philosophy, he had many disagreements with his guru in philosophy.
(Should an initiated devotee of other sampradhaya chant Hare Krishna too? READ HERE!)
(9) That is why, he created and preached his own philosophy. Moreover, he himself did not acknowledge Achyutapreksha as his guru in any place and his books though he accepted him as his guru.
(10) His philosophy is called as THEISTIC DUALISM.
(11) He Philosophy is this:
“There is a fundamental difference between Atman (individual soul) and the Brahman (ultimate reality, God Vishnu), these are two DIFFERENT UNCHANGING realities, with individual soul DEPENDENT ON BRAHMAN, never identical.”
(12) Sri Madhvacharya preached that the Liberation is achievable only through the grace of God.
(13) During his period, Adhi Shankara’s Advaita and Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita philosopies were very prominent. Sri Madhvacharya’s Theistic Dualism added third most influential philosophy. This trend continues even now.
(14) Madhvacharya accepts three types of PRAMANAS (correct means of knowledge): Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (inference) and Sabda (words and views of predecessors).
(15) His philosophies are followed by a certain section of society and at the same time there are criticisms too for his philosophy similar to other philosophies.
(16) Many has preached many philosophies; But, the truth must be only one. It is known only to the Original Creator – God.
(Why do the Symbols of one Sampradhaya differ from others? READ HERE!)