Bhedabheda
Encyclopedia
Bhedābheda Vedānta
is one of the several traditions of Vedānta philosophy in India. “Bhedābheda”
is a Sanskrit word meaning “Difference and Non-Difference.” The characteristic position of all the
different Bhedābheda Vedānta schools is that the individual self (jīvātman) is both different and not
different from the ultimate reality known as Brahman. Bhedābheda reconciles the positions of two other
major schools of Vedānta. The Advaita (Non-dual) Vedānta that claims the individual self is completely
identical to Brahman, and the Dvaita (Dualist) Vedānta that teaches complete difference between the
individual self and Brahman. However, each thinker within the Bhedābheda Vedānta tradition has his own
particular understanding of the precise meanings of the philosophical terms “difference” and
“non-difference.” Bhedābheda Vedāntic ideas can traced to some of the very oldest Vedāntic texts,
including quite possibly Bādarāyaṇa’s Brahma Sūtra (app. 4th c. CE). Bhedābheda ideas also had an
enormous influence on the devotional (bhakti
) schools of India’s medieval period. Among medieval
Bhedābheda thinkers are Nimbārka
(13th Century CE), founder of the Nimbārka
Sampraday which is now centred in Vrindāvan, Vallabha (1479-1531 CE), founder of the Puṣṭimārga devotional sect now centered
in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, and Caitanya (1485-1533 CE) the founder of the Gaudīya Vaiṣṇava sect based in
the northeastern Indian state of West Bengal.
Complete English Translation of Sri Subodhini jee is Published in
"Collected Works of Sri Vallabhcharya series: by Sri Satguru
Publications,a division of Indian Books Centre.Delhi.India.ISBN 81-7030. 25 Vols.. www.indianbookscentre.com
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
is one of the several traditions of Vedānta philosophy in India. “Bhedābheda”
is a Sanskrit word meaning “Difference and Non-Difference.” The characteristic position of all the
different Bhedābheda Vedānta schools is that the individual self (jīvātman) is both different and not
different from the ultimate reality known as Brahman. Bhedābheda reconciles the positions of two other
major schools of Vedānta. The Advaita (Non-dual) Vedānta that claims the individual self is completely
identical to Brahman, and the Dvaita (Dualist) Vedānta that teaches complete difference between the
individual self and Brahman. However, each thinker within the Bhedābheda Vedānta tradition has his own
particular understanding of the precise meanings of the philosophical terms “difference” and
“non-difference.” Bhedābheda Vedāntic ideas can traced to some of the very oldest Vedāntic texts,
including quite possibly Bādarāyaṇa’s Brahma Sūtra (app. 4th c. CE). Bhedābheda ideas also had an
enormous influence on the devotional (bhakti
Bhakti
In Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...
) schools of India’s medieval period. Among medieval
Bhedābheda thinkers are Nimbārka
Nimbarka
Nimbarka , is known for propagating the Vaishnava Theology of Dvaitadvaita, duality in unity. According to scholars headed by Prof. Roma Bose, he lived in the 13th Century, on the assumption that Śrī Nimbārkācārya was the author of the work Madhvamukhamardana...
(13th Century CE), founder of the Nimbārka
Nimbarka
Nimbarka , is known for propagating the Vaishnava Theology of Dvaitadvaita, duality in unity. According to scholars headed by Prof. Roma Bose, he lived in the 13th Century, on the assumption that Śrī Nimbārkācārya was the author of the work Madhvamukhamardana...
Sampraday which is now centred in Vrindāvan, Vallabha (1479-1531 CE), founder of the Puṣṭimārga devotional sect now centered
in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, and Caitanya (1485-1533 CE) the founder of the Gaudīya Vaiṣṇava sect based in
the northeastern Indian state of West Bengal.
Online texts
Complete English Translation of Sri Subodhini jee is Published in
"Collected Works of Sri Vallabhcharya series: by Sri Satguru
Publications,a division of Indian Books Centre.Delhi.India.ISBN 81-7030. 25 Vols.. www.indianbookscentre.com