Dvaita Vedanta

Who is the founder of Dvaita Vedanta?

The founder of Dvaita Vedanta is Madhvacharya, also known as Anandatirtha. He was a 13th century Indian philosopher and theologian who is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the development of Dvaita Vedanta.

Madhvacharya was born in Karnataka, India and was a disciple of Achyutapreksha, a renowned scholar of Advaita Vedanta. However, Madhvacharya's views differed from those of his guru, leading him to establish his own school of thought known as Dvaita Vedanta.

Madhvacharya's teachings were heavily influenced by the works of the ancient Indian philosopher, Vyasa, and the Upanishads. He believed in the concept of dualism, which states that the individual self (Atman) and the universal self (Brahman) are distinct and separate entities. This is in contrast to the Advaita Vedanta school, which holds that the individual self and the universal self are ultimately one and the same.

According to Madhvacharya, Brahman is the supreme being and the ultimate reality, while the individual self is a finite and dependent entity. He also believed in the existence of multiple individual selves, each with their own distinct identities and destinies.

In addition to his philosophical teachings, Madhvacharya also wrote commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita, the Brahma Sutras, and the Upanishads, which further solidified the foundations of Dvaita Vedanta.

Madhvacharya's contributions to Dvaita Vedanta have had a lasting impact on Hindu philosophy and have influenced many other schools of thought. His teachings continue to be studied and followed by many to this day.

In conclusion, Madhvacharya is widely recognized as the founder of Dvaita Vedanta, a school of thought that emphasizes the distinction between the individual self and the universal self. His teachings have played a significant role in shaping the understanding of the relationship between the self and the ultimate reality in Hindu philosophy.