Schools of Vedanta

The Vedanta philosophy encompasses all of the diverse groups that exist in India today. As a result, there have been many different interpretations, all of which have been progressive, starting with the dualistic or Dvaita and culminating with the non-dualistic or Advaita. However, these sections are largely obsolete at the moment, and in India, the name Vedas mainly refers to Vedanta.

Meaning of Vedanta Hindu Philosophy

Vedanta is one of India’s six philosophical systems (darshans). The name Vedanta refers to the “conclusion” (anta) of the Vedas, India’s oldest holy text. Vedanta also refers to a Hindu school or philosophy. It refers to the Upanishads, which were elaborations of the Vedas, as well as the school that evolved from the Upanishads’ study (Mimamsa). As a result, Vedanta is also known as Vedanta Mimamsa.

The origins of Vedanta may be discovered in Yajnavalkya’s old teachings and an ancient teacher named Gaudapada’s commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad. Badarayana’s Vedanta Sutra (5th century BC) is the oldest known systematic study of the Upanishads, and hence of Vedanta. It discusses Brahman’s knowledge, how to obtain it, and the benefits of emancipation. Apart from it, the Bhagavadgita and the Upanishads are the school’s primary sources. The three are regarded as the triple foundations for the Vedanta path’s grand journey of liberation (Pristine Tray).

Purpose of Vedanta Hindu Philosophy  

Vedanta teaches you how to reach that condition and how to overcome your limitations to experience unity with Brahman. The ultimate goal and objective of Vedic knowledge are to achieve this. Seriousness about accomplishing a goal, is what they offer to give.

As a result, Vedanta puts an end to your spiritual journey as well as your life as a mortal creature susceptible to births and deaths. It puts an end to doubts and despair, your searching and striving, knowing, existence as a bound soul, awareness of duality, worldly knowledge as well as spiritual ignorance, relationship with the objective world, bonds and attachments, and the misery and suffering. Along with this, is all that futile effort you put forth to have and deal with your fears and the impermanence of the world.

Schools of Vedanta 

The Vedanta school emerged considerably later, roughly coinciding with the rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism as Hinduism’s two major groups. Its philosophy is not uniform, and it is divided into various sub-schools, three of which are the most significant, with the remainder being variants on those three. They all recognise the Vedas as infallible sources of verbal witness (sabda pramana) on metaphysical facts of reality. The following are the major Vedanta sub-schools:

1. Advaita or nondualism: This argues that Brahman is the only transcendental reality and projection or delusion. Individual souls vanish into Brahman and cease to exist after their emancipation. Adi Shankaracharya (8th-9th century AD) was one of its most prominent proponents, and it still has a large following.
2. Vishishtadvaita or qualified nondualism: It is a school of thought that maintains that there are three universal, everlasting realities rather than one. Brahman (Isvara), individual souls (cit), and nature are the three (acit). Brahman is the only one who is self-sufficient, whereas the other two are reliant. Between Brahman and the souls, there is also a conceptual dualism. Spirits join the land of the Brahman after their emancipation and remain as emancipated souls eternally (muktas). Its main proponent was Sri Ramanujacharya. In several places in India, the school is also highly well-known.
3. Dvaita or dualism: It is a school of thought that believes there are many everlasting realities, not just one or three. Brahman’s realms are actual, not projections or illusions. Existential dualities are also extremely real. The diversity of creation is also diverse. Its main proponent was Madhavacharya, a medieval saint from the 12th to 13th centuries AD. God, according to the school, is an active controller who is accountable for the emancipation of creatures, rather than a passive spectator. Even when they join the domain of Brahman, the souls remain distinct and unique.
4. Other major Vedanta schools: The other important Vedanta schools are modifications of the main ones. The following sub-schools are:-

Nimbarka: It established Dvaita Advaita (11th Century AD). It claims that the souls and nature are both separate (Dvaita) and non-distinct (Advaita) from Brahman, the one independent reality.

Suddha Advaita: According to this school, Krishna – the greatest reality and his creation, the dependent reality, has a connection of pure non-difference. According to Shankara, the world is God’s change, not his projection. As a result, it is not unreal. Vallabha established the school (15th-16th Century AD).

Jiva Gosvami popularised Achintya Bhedabheda, which is based on Chaitanya’s (5th Century AD) teachings. Krishna is regarded as the absolute Brahman, who manifests himself in a variety of forms and manifestations and is, in essence, truth, consciousness, and happiness (sat-chit-ananda). The souls are everlasting, yet they are not connected to God. They are, nevertheless, distinct as well as similar. Liberation can be attained with either knowledge or dedication. 

Conclusion

Vedanta has had a significant impact on Indian philosophy. Although, the overwhelming presence of works by Advaita academics has produced the mistaken idea in the West that Vedanta. Advaita is just one of several Vedanta schools. Swami Vivekananda’s writings and efforts, as well as those of several other spiritual gurus and secular intellectuals, have popularised Vedanta in modern times.