Indian Philosophy v2.c27.s5.2

v2.c27.s5.2

A leading form of reaction against Śaṃkara’s Advaitism is the dualistic philosophy associated with the name of Madhva, which has many points in common with Rāmānuja’s view of reality.¹ Madhva stands out for unqualified dualism and insists on the five great distinctions of God and the individual soul, God and matter, the individual soul and matter, one soul and another, and one part of matter and another. The doctrines of exclusive mediatorship through Vāyu, the son of Viṣṇu, eternal hell as well as the missionary fervour of Madhva’s faith, suggest the influence of Christianity, though there is little evidence in support of it. In view of the fact that Madhva’s commentary on the Kena Upaniṣad is taken from Brahmasāra, it is reasonable to think that there was the tradition of dualism even prior to Madhva. As we shall see, Madhva makes a clever use of the Sāṅkhya and the Nyāya-vaiśeṣika theories.