HS 843: Vedanta Philosophy

In the first part, the most important Vedantic schools, namely, Advaita and Visistadvaita are investigated and assessed. In the second part the other four schools of Vedanta are reviewed and apprised.

Four Vedas, Vedic Religion and Philosophy: Polytheism to Monism, Purusa-sukta and Nasadiya-sukta, Monism of the Upanisads, Some of the main Upanisads: Brhadaranyaka, Chandogya, Mandukya, Mundaka, etc.

Advaita Vedanta: Para-vidya and Apara-vidya, Epistemology: Six ways of acquiring Knowledge, Brahman, Atman, Isvara, Jiva, Maya and Avidya, Adhyasa, Advaitic concept of Moksa.

Visistadvaita:Tattva-traya: Cit, Acit and Isvara, Saguna Brahman, Refutation of Mayavada, Ramanuja`s conception of Moksa.

Dvaita Vedanta, Bhedabheda (Dvaitadvaita), Suddadvaita, Acintya-bhedabheda.

Texts/ References

Brahama Sutras (with Commentary by Sankara) Swami Vireswarananda (Tr), Calcutta, Advaita Ashram, 1993

Mandukya Upanisad with Gaudapada`s Karika and Sankara`s Commentary, Swami Nikhilananda (Tr), Calcutta, Advaita Ashrama, 1995

Pancadasi, Swami Swahananda (Tr), Madras, Ramakrishna Math, 1967

The Veadanta Sutras, Part 1, 2 & 3, G. Thibaut (Tr), New Delhi, Atlanta Publishers and Distributors, 1990

Vedanta Paribhasa, Swami Madhavanand (Tr), Calcutta, Advaiata Ashram, 1997

Chari, S.M. Srinivasa, Advaita and Visistadvaita, Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass, 2000

Datta, D.M., Six Ways of Knowing, Calcutta, Calcutta University Press, 2001

Deussen, Paul, The System of Vedanta, Delhi, Classical Publishing Company, 1996

Sinha, Jadunath, Indian Philospophy, Vol. 2, Delhi, Motilal Banarsidas, 1999.