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Biography of MadhvaName: MadhvaBirth Date: c. 1199 Death Date: c. 1276 Place of Birth: Velali, India Nationality: Indian Gender: Male Occupations: theologian, philosopher Madhva The founder of the Madhvism sect of Hinduism, Madhva (c. 1197-c. 1276) stressed the importance of bhakti, or devotion, in the worship of his Dvaita, or dualist, interpretation of the Vedanta, the philosophy of Hinduism as expressed in the Hindu scriptures, the Veda.Believed to be the incarnation of the Hindu god Vayu, Madhva is believed by his followers to have performed many miracles. Regarding the Samkara branch of Hinduism to be a facsimile of Buddhism, Madhva developed his own theology based on his interpretations of the Upanishads, the last section of the Veda, in which he stressed his pluralistic view of the separate realms of the world, the human soul, and Vishnu (God). Madhva developed his theology from the Vedanta, a philosophy that stresses the search for ultimate meaning. Madhva's theories differ, however, from other such Vedantic faiths as Samkara. Similar to the Christian and Muslim faiths, Madhva preached predestination …showed first 150 words…
…showed last 150 words…salvation granted through the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.Devotion to Vayu is displayed by Madhva's followers by the branding of symbols representing Vishnu on the shoulders and chests and expressed by naming one's sons after one of the many names of Vishnu. Followers are also expected to perform bhakti in words, thoughts, and deeds. The sect also encourages frequent fasting and sacrifices of symbolic lambs made from rice meal. The sect is centered in Udipi in a monastery believed to be built by Madhva. Two other monasteries exist in Madhyatala and Subrahmanya in the Mangalor district of India. Further Reading Dictionary of Comparative Religion, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1970.Hastings, James, editor, Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1958.Nidamboor, Rajgopal, "Meditations on Madhva," Mythos and Logos, http://www.mythosandlogos.com/Madhva.html (February 7, 2002).Sivandanda, Sri Swami, "Madhva," http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/saints/madhva.htm (February 7, 2002). |