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Which texts and commentaries form the scriptural foundation of Dvaita Vedanta?

A rich tapestry of texts underpins the Dvaita Vedanta tradition, weaving together the authoritative Prasthanatrayi—the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Brahma Sūtras—with a suite of commentaries and auxiliary works that bring dualism into sharp focus.

  1. Prasthanatrayi
    • Vedas: Treasures of hymns and rituals, laying the groundwork for Vedantic inquiry.
    • Upanishads: Ten principal Upanishads (Chāndogya, Bṛhadāraṇyaka, Kena, Kaṭha, etc.), each given a dedicated bhāṣya by Madhvācārya.
    • Bhagavad Gītā: Interpreted through Madhvācārya’s Gītā Bhāṣya, where Lord Viṣṇu’s supremacy shines in every verse.
    • Brahma Sūtras: Explained in the Brahma Sūtra Bhāṣya, affirming an unbridgeable gulf between the Supreme Lord and individual souls.

  2. Madhvācārya’s Own Works
    • Upaniṣad Bhāṣyas: Carefully clarifying verses where nondualists see oneness, he insists on a clear “you and me” in the cosmic drama.
    • Gītā Bhāṣya & Brahma Sūtra Bhāṣya: Cornerstones that argue God’s absolute distinctness.
    • Tattva-viveka and Pramāṇa-Paddhati: Manuals on valid knowledge and metaphysics, carving out the Dvaita stance with surgical precision.

  3. Pillars of the Post-Madhva School
    • Jayatīrtha’s Nyāya-sudhā and Tattva-prakāśikā: Dense yet illuminating, they sharpen Madhva’s insights like a master craftsman.
    • Vyāsatīrtha’s Nyāya-mṛta: Often called “the holy elixir,” countering Advaita’s claims one by one.
    • Raghavendra Tīrtha’s Śrī-stotra-ratna: Devotional hymns that capture Dvaita’s heartfelt bhakti.

  4. Puranic and Smriti Supports
    • Bhāgavata Purāṇa and Mahābhārata: Treated as smṛti authorities, their stories back up Madhva’s delineation of God’s unique supremacy.

Recently, the 2025 conference at Banaras Hindu University highlighted a new critical edition of Madhvācārya’s bhāṣyas, underscoring how living scholarship keeps Dvaita’s textual legacy fresh. Like threads in a fine tapestry, these scriptures and commentaries hold the Dualist vision together, celebrating a universe where devotion and distinction walk hand in hand.