Bhedābheda is more a tradition than a sub-school of Vedānta, which teaches that the individual self (''jīvātman'') is both different and not different from the ultimate reality known as Brahman.

Etymology

''Bhedābheda'' (

Devanagari Devanagari ( ; in script: , , ) is an Indic script used in the Indian subcontinent. It is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental Writing systems#Segmental systems: alphabets, writing system), based on the ancient ''Brāhmī script, Brā ...

: ) is a Sanskrit word meaning "difference and

non-difference Non-difference is the nearest English translation of the Sanskrit word ''abheda'', meaning non-existence of difference. In Vedanta philosophy this word plays a vital role in explaining the indicatory mark in respect of the unity of the individual ...

History

The principal author of Bhedabheda is Bhāskara who was either Shankara's contemporary or lived shortly after Shankara. Bhedabheda, is a Hindu philosophical tradition, primarily developed in the 7th Century CE, with key contributions from Bhāskara and Nimbarka. This school states that the individual soul (jiva) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are simultaneously distinct and non-distinct.

Philosophy

There are multiple ways that the difference and non-difference is interpreted in Bhedābheda traditions. Bhaskara and Nimbarka mark two ends on the spectrum in this tradition. Bhaskara believes that the non-difference aspect is more real because he believes that Brahman is in its natural state without difference. Nimbarka believes that Brahman's essential nature includes equally real states of difference and non-difference.

Argument against Advaita Interpretations

The philosopher Vijñānabhikṣu took the Bhedabheda philosophy to be superior to other interpretations as it could make sense of seeming contradictions in the Vedas. He points out that Advaita interpretations fall short because they only prioritize statements that suggest the identical nature of Brahman and the soul. However, these interpretations subordinate statements that point to the difference between Brahman and the soul, resorting to interpreting them as figurative. In order to make sense of the Vedas' statements as consistent, Vijñānabhikṣu argues that difference and non-difference can also mean separation and non-separation, rather than identity and negation of identity. The meaning of ''bheda'' and ''abheda'', then, determined according to the context, solves the problem of taking some statements from the Vedas as untrue or merely figurative.

Influence

Bhedābheda ideas had an enormous influence on the devotional (

bhakti ''Bhakti'' (; Pali: ''bhatti'') is a term common in Indian religions which means attachment, fondness for, devotion to, trust, homage, worship, piety, faith, or love.See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. In Indian religions, it ...

) schools of India's medieval period. Among medieval Bhedābheda thinkers are: * Nimbārka (dates proposed by scholars range from 7th century – 15th century), who founded the Svābhābika

Dvaitādvaita Dvaitadvaita Vedanta, also known as Svabhavika Bhedabheda and as Svabhavika Bhinnabhinna,() is the philosophical doctrine of "natural identity-in-difference" or "natural difference cum-non-difference." It was propagated by the medieval Vedanta, ...

school.Malkovsky, ''The Role of Divine Grace in the Soteriology of Śaṃkarācārya'', Leiden: Brill, p. 118. * Bhāskara (8th and 9th centuries), who founded the Aupādhika Bhedābheda school. *

Chaitanya Chaitanya or Chaithanya may refer to Philosophy *Chaitanya (consciousness), Hindu philosophical concept People *Chaitanya (name) *Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533), founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism Media *Chaitanya (film), ''Chaitanya'' (film), ...

(1485–1533), the founder of

Gaudiya Vaishnavism Gaudiya Vaishnavism (), also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism, is a Vaishnavism, Vaishnava Hindu denominations, Hindu religious movement inspired by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534) in India. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gaura or Gauḍa region o ...

based in the eastern Indian State of

West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...

, and the theological founder of Achintya Bheda Abhedavedanta *

Guru Nanak Gurū Nānak (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: , ), also known as ('Father Nanak'), was an Indian spiritual teacher, mystic and poet, who is regarded as the founder of Sikhism and is t ...

(1439-1569), the founder of

Sikhism Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...

based in north india. * Ramanujacharya, founder of

Vishishtadvaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita ( IAST '; ) is a school of Hindu philosophy belonging to the Vedanta tradition. Vedanta refers to the profound interpretation of the Vedas based on Prasthanatrayi. Vishishta Advaita, meaning "non-duality with distinctions", i ...

and

Sri Vaishnavism Sri Vaishnavism () is a denomination within the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism, predominantly practiced in South India. The name refers to goddess Lakshmi (also known as Sri), as well as a prefix that means "sacred, revered", and the god Vi ...

. Other major names are Rāmānuja's teacher Yādavaprakāśa, and Vijñānabhikṣu (16th century).

References

Sources

External links

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, ''Bhedabheda''
Vedanta Bhakti movement {{Hindu-theo-stub