Shuddadvaita (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

: "pure non-dualism") is the "purely non-dual" philosophy propounded by

Vallabhacharya Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhu (1479–1531 CE), also known as Vallabha, Mahaprabhuji and Vishnuswami, or Vallabha Acharya, is a Hindu Indian saint and philosopher who founded the Krishna-centered PushtiMarg sect of Vaishnavism in the Braj(Vraj) ...

(1479-1531 CE), the founding philosopher and guru of the ("tradition of Vallabh") or ("The path of grace"), a

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

Vaishnava Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...

tradition focused on the worship of

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

. Vallabhacharya's pure form ( nondualist) philosophy is different from

Advaita ''Advaita Vedanta'' (; sa, अद्वैत वेदान्त, ) is a Hindu sādhanā, a path of spiritual discipline and experience, and the oldest extant tradition of the orthodox Hindu school Vedānta. The term ''Advaita'' (l ...

. The Shrinathji temple at Nathdwara, and compositions of eight poets (), including Surdas, are central to the worship by the followers of the sect.Martin, Nancy M., "North Indian Hindi devotional literature" in

Location

The tradition is founded by Vishnuswami, Vishnu swamy in South India, Southern India. He is known as the early founder of the Rudra Sampradaya, Rudra sampradaya, one of the four main traditions of Vaishnavism, Vaishnavaites. Vallabha, Vallabha Acharya founded the Krishna-centered Pushti-Marga sect of Vaishnavism in the Braj, Braj(Vraj) region of India. In modern times followers of Shuddadvaita are concentrated in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Central Topics

In the Historical Vedic religion, ancient Vedic tradition of knowledge and comprehension of reality, the central theme would be experiencing the Supreme Entity or Brahman. Vedas primarily contain references to the ''adwait'' nature of Brahm. However, depending on how a scholar perceives those verses, he might see duality— ''dwait'' aspect as well. This ambiguity has led to several philosophical traditions in the History of India, Indian history, such as: *Advaita, Advaita vāda of Adi Shankaracharya *Vishistadvaita, Vishistadvaita vāda of Ramanujacharya *Dvaita, Dvaita vāda or Bhedavāda of Madhvacharya *Dvaitadvaita, Dvaitadvaita vāda of Nimbarkacharya *Shuddhadvaita vāda of

*Achintya Bhedābheda, Achintya Bhedābheda vāda of Krishna Chaitanya

Vallabhacharya

was a devotional philosopher, who founded the Pushtimarg, Pushti sect in India. He won the title of acharya by traveling and debating advaita scholars from a young age. In 1493-94

is said to have identified an image of Krishna at the Govardhan hill at Braj. This image, now called Shrinathji and located at Nathdwara, Rajasthan, is central to the worship by Vallabha followers.

Initiating mantra

According to Vallabha tradition, one night in 1494,

received the ''Brahmasambandha mantra'' (the mantra that binds one with Brahman, or Krishna) from

himself (hence the name, ) at Gokula. The eight-syllable mantra, ' (Lord Krishna is my refuge), is passed onto new initiates in Vallabh sampradaya, and the divine name is said to rid the recipient of all impurities of the soul () .Colas, Gerard, "History of traditions" in

Philosophy

The school of in-essence monism or purified non-dualism of Vallabha sees equality in "essence" of the individual self with God. There is no real difference between the two (like the analogy of sparks to fire). However, unlike Shankara's Advaita, Vallabha does not deny God as the whole and the individual as the part. The individual soul is not the Supreme (Satcitananda) clouded by the force of Avidya (Hinduism), avidya, but is itself Brahman, with one attribute (ananda) rendered imperceptible. The soul is both a doer and enjoyer. It is atomic in size, but pervades the whole body through its essence of intelligence (like sandalwood makes its presence felt through its scent even if sandalwood can't be seen). Unlike Advaita, the world of Maya (illusion), Maya is not regarded as unreal, since Maya is nothing else than a power of Ishvara. He is not only the creator of the universe but is the universe itself. Vallabha cites the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad account, that Brahman desired to become many, and he became the multitude of individual souls and the world. Although Brahman is not known, He is known when He manifests Himself through the world. Bhakti is the means of salvation, though Jnana is also useful. Karmas precede knowledge of the Supreme, and are present even when this knowledge is gained. The liberated perform all karmas. The highest goal is not wikt:mukti, Mukti or liberation, but rather eternal service of

and participation along with His activities in His Divine abode of Vrindavana. Vallabha distinguishes the transcendent consciousness of Brahman as Purushottama. Vallabha lays a great stress on a life of unqualified love and devotion towards God. In all the philosophical traditions, it is common practice to describe how the Supreme Entity Brahm is related to us and our surroundings. In the system of Suddhadwait Vedant, otherwise known as Brahmvaad, the One, secondless Ultimate Reality is the only category. Every other thing has proceeded from it at the time of creation, is non-different from it during creation and merges into it at the time of dissolution. The two other well known categories namely the animate souls and the inanimate objects are respectively its parts and modifications. The animate souls are its parts because they retain to some extent the essential qualities thereof namely consciousness and joy. The inanimate objects are its modification because the above said qualities are absent therein.

Everything is Krishna's Leela

According to the version of Vaishnava Theology

espoused; the glorious Krsna, Krishna in His "Satcitananda" form is the Absolute, Svayam Bhagavan. He is permanently playing out His sport (leela) from His seat in the Goloka which is even beyond the divine Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu and Satya-loka, the abode of Brahma the Creator, and Mount Kailash, Kailas, the abode of Shiva. Creation is His sport.

Path to bliss in the Kali Yuga

Followers of

maintain that if one wants to obtain moksha and the bliss given by

, the only path to do so is bhakti. In the Kali Yuga, it is believed that the forms of bhakti mentioned in the scriptures are nearly impossible to practice, so the followers of

recommend ''pushti bhakti'' – which is the end itself and not means to an end, giving moksha, joy and oneness with Shree Krishna. It illustrates oneness with Shree Krishna can be achieved merely by having true belief and love for Shree Krsna and recitation of the Brahmasambandha mantra.

Atma-nivedana

It is that bhakti which gives itself up body, heart and soul to the cause of God. It is considered to be the fullest expression of what is known as Atma-nivedana (= giving-up of oneself) among the nine forms of bhakti (Navadha Bhakti). It is the bhakti of the devotee who worships God not for any reward or presents but for His own sake. Such a devotee goes to Goloka after leaving this body and lives in eternal bliss enjoying the sports of the Lord. The classical example of this complete self-effacement is that of the cow-herdesses towards

. They spoke no word except prayer and they moved no step except towards

. Their supreme-most meditation was on the lotus-feet of

.Thus it is by God's grace alone that one can obtain release from bondage and attain Krishna's heaven, Goloka.

Ashta-chhaap

In V.S. 1602, his son Vitthalnath, also known as Gusainji, established the eight-fold system of singing the name and glory of Shrinathji (Kirtana) and entrusted this responsibility to eight poet-disciples of

and his own, called the ashta-chhaap after the eight divine services to Shrinathji from morning until going to sleep. Foremost among them was Surdas, the blind poet of Agra. These are Surdas, Krishna Das, Paramanand Das, Kumbhan Das, Chaturbhuj Das, Nand Das, Chhitswami, and Govind Das. The first four poets and singers were Vallabhacharya's disciples, while the other four were Gusainji's.

Shuddhadwait Martand

Shuddhadwait is defined more thoroughly in verse 27-28 from Shuddhadwait Martand: शुद्धाद्वैतापदे ज्ञेय: समास: कर्मधारय: I अद्वैतं शुद्धयो: प्राहुः षष्ठी तत्पुरुषमं बुधा: II मायासंबंधरहितमं शुद्धमित्युच्यते बुधै: I कार्यकरणरूपमं हि शुद्धं ब्रह्म न मायिकम़् II The Shuddhadvaita philosophy has also been explained by various scholars of the sect, such as Devarshi Ramanath Shastri, who has enunciated the tenets of this philosophy in his books ‘Shuddhadvait Siddhantasaar’ (Hindi and Gujarati) and Shuddhadvaita Darshan.Shuddhadvait Darshan (in 3 Vols.)(New Edition), Pub. Vidya Vibhag, Nathdwara,2000

Notes

References

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External links

Pustimarg Sahitya by Mota Mandir Mumbai
{{VaisnavaSampradayas Hindu philosophy Vaishnavism Bhakti movement Advaita Advaita Shaivism