A History of Indian Philosophy (Vol.4): The Philosophy of the Bhagavata Purana, Madhva, Vallabha and Gaudiya School of Vaisnavism

The present volume deals with the philosophy of the Bhagavatapurna, the philosophy of Madhva and his followers, the philosophy of Vallabha and the philosophy of the GauOE?ya school of vaisnavism. So far, nothing important has yet been published on the philosophy of the Bhagavata-purana and that of Vallabha. But so far nothing has appeared about the philosophy of the great teachers of the Madhva school such as Jaya-tirtha and Vyasa-tirtha. There is a general belief amongst many that monism of Sankara presents the final phase of Indian thought. But the readers of

the present volume who will be introduced to the philosophy of Jaya-tirtha and particularly

of Vyasa-tirtha will realize the strength and uncompromising impressiveness of the dualistic position. The logical skill and depth of acute dialectical thinking shown by Vyasa-tirtha stands

almost un-rivalled in the whole field of Indian thought. It is hoped that the treatment of the

philosophy of Madhva and his followers undertaken in the present volume will give new light to students of Indian thought and will present many new aspects of dialectical logic hitherto undiscovered in Indian or European thought.

This is mainly intended to give an exposition of Indian thought strictly on the basis of the original texts and commentaries. Occasionally, however, the author has sometimes discussed and borrowed the views of other writers in the assessment of chronological facts. Often the ground covered has been wholly new and the materials have been obtained by a direct and first-hand study of all available texts and manuscripts.

The work appears in five volumes. Vol. I comprises Buddhist and Jaina Philosophy and the six systems of Hindu thought, viz.., Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisesika, Mimamsa and Vedanta. It also contains the philosophy of the Yogavasistha, the Bhagavadgita and speculations in the medical schools. Vol. III contains an elaborate account of the Principal Dualistic and Pluralistic Systems such as the philosophy of the Pancaratra, Bhaskara, Yamuna, Ramanuja, Nimbarka, Vijnanabhiksu and philosophical speculations of some of the selected Puranas. Vol. IV deals with the Bhagavata Purana, Madhva and his School, Vallabha, Caitanya, Jiva Gosvami and Baladeva Vidyabhusana. Vol. V treats the Southern Schools of Saivism, viz., Saiva Siddhanta, Vira Saivism, philosophy of Srikantha. Saiva Philosophy in the Puranas and in some important texts.

Review(s)

The collection of data, editing and interpretation of every school of thought is a feat unparalleled in the field of history of philosophy. – The Oxford Journal

About the Author(s)