Historical influence Advaita Vedanta

1 historical influence

1.1 smarta tradition
1.2 other hindu traditions
1.3 development of central position

1.3.1 unifying hinduism
1.3.2 hindu nationalism
1.3.3 swami vivekananda
1.3.4 sarvepalli radhakrishnan
1.3.5 mahatama gandhi


1.4 new religious movements

1.4.1 neo-advaita
1.4.2 non-dualism

historical influence

mahatma gandhi stated advaitist .

scholars divided on historical influence of advaita vedanta. indologists state 1 of studied hindu philosophy , influential schools of classical indian thought. advaita vedanta, states eliot deutsch, has been , continues accepted system of thought among philosophers in india, , is, believe, 1 of greatest philosophical achievements found in east or west .

smarta tradition

the smarta tradition of hinduism ancient tradition, particularly found in south , west india, revers hindu divinities step in spiritual pursuit. worship practice called panchayatana puja. worship symbolically consists of 5 deities: shiva, vishnu, devi or durga, surya , ishta devata or personal god of devotee s preference.

in smarta tradition, advaita vedanta ideas combined bhakti foundation. adi shankara regarded greatest teacher , reformer of smarta. according alf hiltebeitel, shankara s advaita vedanta , practices became doctrinal unifier of conflicting practices smarta tradition.

philosophically, smarta tradition emphasizes images , statues (murti), or 5 marks or anicons on ground, visibly convenient icons of spirituality saguna brahman. multiple icons seen multiple representations of same idea, rather distinct beings. these serve step , means realizing abstract ultimate reality called nirguna brahman. ultimate goal in practice transition past use of icons, follow philosophical , meditative path understanding oneness of atman (soul, self) , brahman – art thou .

other hindu traditions

within ancient , medieval texts of hindu traditions, such vaishnavism, shaivism , shaktism, ideas of advaita vedanta have had major influence. advaita vedanta influenced krishna vaishnavism in different parts of india. 1 of popular text, bhagavata purana, adopts , integrates in advaita vedanta philosophy. bhagavata purana accepted scholars have been composed in second half of 1st millennium ce.

in ancient , medieval literature of shaivism, called Āgamas, influence of advaita vedanta once again prominent. of 92 Āgamas, ten dvaita texts, eighteen bhedabheda, , sixty-four advaita texts. according natalia isaeva, there evident , natural link between 6th-century gaudapada s advaita vedanta ideas , kashmir shaivism.

shaktism, hindu tradition goddess considered identical brahman, has flowered syncretism of monist premises of advaita vedanta , dualism premises of samkhya–yoga school of hindu philosophy, referred shaktadavaitavada (literally, path of nondualistic shakti).

other influential ancient , medieval classical texts of hinduism such yoga yajnavalkya, yoga vashishta, avadhuta gita, markandeya purana , sannyasa upanishads predominantly incorporate premises , ideas of advaita vedanta.

development of central position

already in medieval times, advaita vedanta came regarded highest of indian religious philosophies, development reinforced in modern times due western interest in advaita vedanta, , subsequent influence on western perceptions on indian perceptions of hinduism.

in contrast, king states present position response of hindu intellectuals centuries of christian polemic aimed @ establishing hindu inferiority complex during colonial rule of indian subcontinent. humanistic, inclusivist formulation, called neo-vedanta, attempted respond colonial stereotyping of indian culture backward, superstitious , inferior west , states king. advaita vedanta projected central philosophy of hinduism, , neo-vedanta subsumed , incorporated buddhist ideas thereby making buddha part of vedanta tradition, in attempt reposition history of indian culture. thus, states king, neo-vedanta developed reaction western orientalism , perennialism. efforts of vivekananda, modern formulation of advaita vedanta has become dominant force in indian intellectual thought , though hindu beliefs , practices diverse.

unifying hinduism

advaita vedanta came occupy central position in classification of various hindu traditions. scholars, arrival of islamic rule, first in form of delhi sultanate thereafter mughal empire, , subsequent persecution of indian religions, hindu scholars began self-conscious attempts define identity , unity. between twelfth , fourteen century, according andrew nicholson, effort emerged classification of astika , nastika systems of indian philosophies. thinkers, according nicholson thesis, began retrospectively classify ancient thought 6 systems (saddarsana) of mainstream hindu philosophy.

other scholars, acknowledges nicholson, present alternate thesis. scriptures such vedas, upanishads , bhagavad gita, texts such dharmasutras , puranas, , various ideas considered paradigmatic hinduism traceable being thousands of years old. unlike christianity , islam, hinduism religion not have single founder, rather fusion of diverse scholarship gallaxy of thinkers openly challenged each other s teachings , offered own ideas. term hindu too, states arvind sharma, appears in older texts such in arabic record islamic invasion or regional rule of indian subcontinent. of these texts have been dated between 8th , 11th century. within these doxologies , records, advaita vedanta given highest position, since regarded inclusive system.

hindu nationalism

according king, along consolidation of british imperialist rule came orientalism wherein new rulers viewed indians through colonially crafted lenses . in response, emerged hindu nationalism collective action against colonial rule, against caricature christian , muslim communities, , socio-political independence. in colonial era search of identity, vedanta came regarded essence of hinduism, , advaita vedanta came regarded paradigmatic example of mystical nature of hindu religion , umbrella of inclusivism . umbrella of advaita vedanta, according king, provided opportunity construction of nationalist ideology unite hindus in struggle against colonial oppression .

among colonial era intelligentsia, according anshuman mondal, professor of literature specializing in post-colonial studies, monistic advaita vedanta has been major ideological force hindu nationalism. mahatma gandhi professed monism of advaita vedanta, though @ times spoke terms mind-body dualism schools of hinduism. other colonial era indian thinkers, such vivekananda, presented advaita vedanta inclusive universal religion, spirituality in part helped organize religiously infused identity, , rise of hindu nationalism counter weight islam-infused muslim communitarian organizations such muslim league, christianity-infused colonial orientalism , religious persecution of belonging indian religions.

swami vivekananda

a major proponent in popularisation of universalist , perennialist interpretation of advaita vedanta vivekananda, played major role in revival of hinduism, , spread of advaita vedanta west via ramakrishna mission. interpretation of advaita vedanta has been called neo-vedanta . vivekananda discerned universal religion, regarding apparent differences between various traditions various manifestations of 1 truth. presented karma, bhakti, jnana , raja yoga equal means attain moksha, present vedanta liberal , universal religion, in contrast exclusivism of other religions.

vivekananda emphasised nirvikalpa samadhi spiritual goal of vedanta, equated liberation in yoga , encouraged yoga practice called raja yoga. approach, however, missing in historic advaita texts. in 1896, vivekananda claimed advaita appeals modern scientists:

i may make bold religion agrees with, , goes little further modern researchers, both on physical , moral lines advaita, , why appeals modern scientists much. find old dualistic theories not enough them, not satisfy necessities. man must have not faith, intellectual faith .

according rambachan, vivekananda interprets anubhava mean personal experience , akin religious experience, whereas shankara used term denote liberating understanding of sruti.

vivekananda s claims spirituality science , modern, according david miller, may questioned informed scientists, drew attention being different how christianity , islam being viewed scientists , sociologists of era.

sarvepalli radhakrishnan

sarvepalli radhakrishnan, first professor @ oxford university , later president of india, further popularized advaita vedanta, presenting essence of hinduism. according michael hawley, professor of religious studies, radhakrishnan saw other religions, radhakrishnan understands lower forms of hinduism, interpretations of advaita vedanta, thereby in sense hindusizing religions . him, world faces religious problem, there unreflective dogmatism , exclusivism, creating need experiential religion , inclusivism . advaita vedanta, claimed radhakrishnan, best exemplifies hindu philosophical, theological, , literary tradition fulfills need. radhakrishnan did not emphasize differences between buddhism, jainism, sikhism versus hinduism defined in terms of advaita vedanta, rather tended minimize differences. apparent, example, in discussions of buddhist madhyamika , yogacara traditions versus advaita vedanta tradition.

radhakrishnan metaphysics grounded in advaita vedanta, reinterpreted advaita vedanta contemporary needs , context. acknowledged reality , diversity of world of experience, saw grounded in , supported transcendent metaphysical absolute concept (nirguna brahman). radhakrishnan reinterpreted shankara s notion of maya. according radhakrishnan, maya not strict absolute idealism, subjective misperception of world real.

mahatama gandhi

gandhi declared allegiance advaita vedanta, , popularizing force ideas. according nicholas gier, gandhi meant unity of god , humans, beings have same 1 soul , therefore equality, atman exists , same in universe, ahimsa (non-violence) nature of atman. gandhi called himself advaitist many times, including letters, believed others have right viewpoint different own because come different background , perspective. according gier, gandhi did not interpret maya illusion, accepted personal theism leading impersonal monism 2 tiers of religiosity.

new religious movements
neo-advaita

neo-advaita new religious movement based on popularised, western interpretation of advaita vedanta , teachings of ramana maharshi. neo-advaita being criticised discarding traditional prerequisites of knowledge of scriptures , renunciation necessary preparation path of jnana-yoga . notable neo-advaita teachers h. w. l. poonja, students gangaji andrew cohen, , eckhart tolle.

non-dualism

advaita vedanta has gained attention in western spirituality , new age, various traditions seen driven same non-dual experience. nonduality points primordial, natural awareness without subject or object . used refer interconnectedness, sense things interconnected , not separate, while @ same time things retain individuality .

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