Routledge. - Advaita Vedānta and Vaiṣṇavism: the philosophy of Madhusūdana Sarasvatī

In Indian philosophy and theology, the concept of Brahman postulated by Vednta occupies an important position. Hindu religious sects accept the Vedntic soteriology which believes that there is only one conscious reality, Brahman, from which the entire creation, both conscious and non-conscious, emanated.

Madhusdana Sarasvat, who lived in sixteenth-century Bengal and wrote in Sanskrit, was the last great thinker in the Vednta tradition. During his time, Hindu sectarians came to reject monistic Vedanta. Although a strict monist, Madhusdana tried to forge a synthesis between his monistic philosophy and his theology of emotional love for God. This book expounds the main tenets of his extensive and difficult works and represents the only comprehensive study of Madhusdana Sarasvats thought.

Sanjukta Gupta taught at Visva Bharati University, Calcutta University and Jadavpur University in India, as well as Utrecht University in the Netherlands. At present she is a member of the Oriental Institute at the University of Oxford. She specialises in Indian philosophy with a focus on the system of Vednta in Hindu theology, in particular Vaiavism and Tantra.

Series Editor: Gavin Flood, University of Stirling
Former Series Editor: Francis X. Clooney, S.J.,
Harvard University

The Routledge Hindu Studies Series , in association with the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, intends the publication of constructive Hindu theological, philosophical and ethical projects aimed at bringing Hindu traditions into dialogue with contemporary trends in scholarship and contemporary society. The series invites original, high quality, research level work on religion, culture and society of Hindus living in India and abroad. Proposals for annotated translations of important primary sources and studies in the history of the Hindu religious traditions will also be considered.

EPISTEMOLOGIES AND THE LIMITATIONS OF
PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY
Doctrine in Mdhva Vednta
Deepak Sarma

A HINDU CRITIQUE OF BUDDHIST EPISTEMOLOGY
Kumarila on perception
The determination of perception chapter of
Kumarilabhattas Slokarvarttika
Translation and commentary
John Taber

SAMKARAS ADVAITA VEDANTA
A way of teaching
Jacqueline Hirst

ATTENDING KAS IMAGE
Caitanya Vaiava mrti-sev as devotional truth
Kenneth Russell Valpey

ADVAITA VEDNTA AND VAIAVISM
The philosophy of Madhusdana Sarasvat
Sanjukta Gupta

The philosophy of Madhsudana Sarasvat

Sanjukta Gupta

First published 2006
by Routledge
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2006 Sanjukta Gupta

Typeset in Times New Roman by
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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Gupta, Sanjukta.
Advaita Vedanta and Vaishnavism: the philosophy of Madhusudana
Sarasvati / Sanjukta Gupta.
p. cm. (Routledge Hindu studies series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Madhusudana Sarasvati. 2. Advaita. 3. Vaishnavism. I. Title.
II. RoutledgeCurzon Hindu studies series.

B133.M184G87 2006
181'.482dc22

2006006814

ISBN10: 0415395356 ISBN13: 9780415395359 (hbk)
ISBN10: 0203969707 ISBN13: 9780203969700 (ebk)

This book is based on my 1958 PhD thesis written at Visva Bharati University and published in India in 1966. It addressed mainly Indian scholars of ancient Indian Darana astra (philosophy). For a long time I wanted to re-edit and update it. My great friend the late Mrs Coomee Strooker of Amsterdam started to read it through in order to correct my English, but unfortunately age prevented her from completing the task. That was decades ago. I just mention her to express my deep respect and love for her.

To my great surprise Rishi Shaunaka Dasa, Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, one day offered to publish this work in his Series of Hindu Religious Studies. I am grateful for this generous offer. He also introduced me to the Centres secretary, Ms Diane Rollinson, who in her amazing kindness typed up my thesis on the Centres computer. But for her I would never have been able to reshape my old work on Madhusdana Sarasvat. I am also indebted to Dr Sarah Shaw for reading and correcting my thesis and Mr Tamal Matilal whose careful proofreading and many suggestions for improvement have been invaluable. I thank Professor Francis X. Clooney, S.J., the former chief editor of the Routledge Hindu Studies Series, for accepting my book for publication. I must also thank Professor Godavarisha Misra for his constant encouragement. Ms Dorothea Schaefter, Associate Editor at Routledge has also been most helpful.

Sanjukta Gupta

The Routledge Hindu Studies Series, published in collaboration with the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, intends primarily the publication of constructive Hindu theological, philosophical and ethical projects. The focus is on issues and concerns of relevance to readers interested in Hindu traditions in particular, yet also in the context of a wider range of related religious concerns that matter in todays world. The Series seeks to promote excellent scholarship and, in relation to it, an open and critical conversation among scholars and the wider audience of interested readers. Though contemporary in its purpose, the Series recognises the importance of retrieving the classic texts and ideas, beliefs and practices, of Hindu traditions, so that the great intellectuals of these traditions may as it were become active participants in the conversations of today. Deepak Sarmas Epistemologies and the Limitations of Philosophical Inquiry , John Tabers A Hindu Critique of Buddhist Epistemology: Kumarila on Perception , Jacqueline Hirsts Samkaras Advaita Vedanta: A Way of Teaching , and Kenneth Russell Valpeys Attending K as Image: Caitanya Vai ava Mrti-sev as Devotional Truth have been the distinguished first four volumes in the Series.

Sanjukta Guptas Advaita Vednta and Vai avism: The Philosophy of Madhusdana Sarasvat is now published as our fifth volume. It is an exhaustive study of the writings of Madhusdana Sarasvat, a prominent sixteenth-century Hindu theologian and philosopher who delved deeply and expertly into both Advaita Vednta and Bengali Vaiavism. The publication of this work in the Series reflects our recognition that this important figure has been inadequately studied and deserves more attention. Moreover, by studying him we also fill out our understanding of Advaita and dispel exaggerations regarding the relationships and differences between Advaita and Vaiavism.