The Schools of Vedanta

THE SCHOOLS OF VEDANTA by P. NAGARAJA RAO M. A. WITH A FOREWORD BY SIR S. RADHAKRISHNAN BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN BOMBAY. CONTENTS: Foreword Preface Chapter I. Science and Philosophy II. Resume of Indian Philosophy III. The Philosophy of Sahkara IV. Advaita and the New Social Order V. The Philosophy of Ramanuja VI. The Philosophy of Madhva VII. TheUpanisads VIII, The Bhagavad Gita IX. The Vedanta Sutras Index Page vii viii 1 15 27 59 69 82 91 105 120 129 Some Publications of ihe Bhavan under Print 1 The Glory That Was Gurjaradesa fl The Mulraj Solanki Commemoration Volume. Edited by Shri K. M. Munshi. 2 rcrcr an Apabhramsa poem edited by Acharya Jinavijayaji. 3 sfrh Rh STOJI a grammatical work in Sanskrit edited by Acharya Jinavijayaji. 4 3 5 i 5RT T fa edited by Acharya Jinavijayaji. 5 fewrg T a Prakrit work on Omens edited by ProifT A. S. Gopani. 6 Devabodhas Commentary on Udyogaparva of the Mahabharata edited by Dr. S. K. De. 7 Epic and Puranic Studies by Dr. A. D. Pusalker. 8 The Indus Valley Civilization by Dr. A. D. Pusalker. - 9 TCfa Eft by Prof. S. D. Gyani. 10 V-M The Meeting of Religions transla tion of Sir S. Radhakrishnans Essays. ii 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Nos, 12-23 under the General Editorship of Acharya Jinavijayaji. FOREWORD In this little book Mr. P. NAGARAJA RAO puts up a spirited defence for the study of Philosophy. Science in itself cannot give us a scheme of values and each one of us has his own view of the ends of life though he may not be able to support it by a learned metaphysics. Among the Hindus the values are conveyed through systems o Philosophy which are associated with the three great acaryas, Sahkara, Ramanuja and Madhva. Mr. NAGA RAJA RAO gives us here in simple and clear language the central features of the three systems. As an introduction to their detailed study this book will serve a valuable purpose. S. RADHAKRISHNAN Benares, 25 July, 1943. PREFACE This book was prepared by me as the Say a ji Rao Fellow of the University. But for the liberal aid and other facilities extended to me by the Government of Baroda, it would not have been possible for me to have got the book ready for publication. I am deeply grateful to His Highness for graciously allowing me to dedicate the volume to his grand-father, the late Maharaja of Baroda. In the preparation of the book I have drawn freely from the writings and speeches of my esteemed professor Sir S. RADHAKRISHNAN. For the chapter on Advaita I am deeply indebted to my late Professor S. S. Suryanarayana SASTRI, Reader in Indian Philosophy, University of Madras. My thanks are due to Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit A. Chinnaswami SASTRIAR for having helped me to read the original texts and works on Vedanta. My thanks are also due to my friend Mr. N. R. BHUVARAHAN, Sub-Editor, Indian Express, Madras, and Dr. C. Narayana MENON of the English Department of the Benares Hindu University for having looked through the proofs and made valuable suggestions. I owe the index to Mr. C. G. VISVANATHAN of the Benares Hindu University Library. My special thanks are due to the authorities of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for having consented to publish this book in these hard and difficult times. The Director and the staff of the Bhavan have helped me considerably in getting the book through the press. My thanks are also due to the editors of the various periodicals for permitting me to use the material that first appeared as articles in their pages and especially to Srimati Sophia WADIA, Editor of the Aryan Path for her help and suggestions in the preparation of Chapter IV. Benares Hindu University, P, NAGARAJA RAO 10th August, 1943. J CHAPTER I Science and Philosophy We live in an age the intellectual environment of which is largely determined by science. Science in some manner or other has affected and influenced our world view...