[Madhva standpoint] What is meant by mode of Brahman

[Guest guest]

[ The article below is presented as an informational post

about the Madhva doctrine concerning the jiva and Brahman.

It is significantly different from Sri Ramanuja's philosophy

in many ways. As you will read below, the post does not

at all answer the question as to what being a "mode" (prakAra)

of Brahman is, since that idea is alien to Madhva philosophy.

This post is presented to highlight the contrast between the two

schools. -- moderator ]

 

Dear Mr. P.Srinivasan

 

What is meant by Mode of Brahman?

This has reference to the query, reproduced below:

> > In our real svarupa, we (jivatmas) along with

> > Prakriti are said to

> > be the Body of Brahman (Narayana). This is easy to

> > understand (and

> > also visibly shown to Arjuna).

I will give you the version as per Madwa-Dwaitha

Parampara,to

the extent I Know.

Jiva, Prakrithi and Brahman are always different

entities. They have always existed. By The will

of Brahman ( who is Sriman Narayana) the

Jiva gets bonded to Prakrithi, and suffers

numerous birth cycles.Again by the wishes

of Brahman the bondage between the Jiva and

Prakrithi gets destroyed, and the Jiva gets Moksha.

Even in Moksha the Jiva does not become one with

Brahman, he only enjoys the close proximity to

Brahman.

What Lord Krishna(who is the Brahman)

showed Arjuna in the VishwaRoopa Darshana,

is the entire Universe is within him(and not the

Universe IS him).

> However the jiva is also said to be an attribute of

> > Brahman. How is

> > it that the jiva, who is a substantive existent,

is

> > also considered

> > an attribute? Also the jiva is said to be a Mode

of

> > Brahman. What is

> > meant by Mode? Can someone kindly elucidate?

>

As mentioned above the Jiva and Brahman are

different always. Jiva is a separate entity and is

not part of an attribute of Brahman.

The Brahman has countless attributes

and qualities. The Jivas are dependent on the

Brahman. The attributes of Jiva fall in the

Satva, Rajas and Tamasa category. The attributes

of Brahman are different from the attributes

of Jiva.

In the Brahma Sutras it is said

OM JANMADYASYA YATAH OM

This sentence talks of Brahman and indicates

(as per Madwa-Dwaitha Parampara)

He(Brahman) is the creator, Sustainer and

Destroyer of the World. He is also the bestower

of knowledge and liberation.

The Vedas and Brahma Suktas primarily describe

the Infinite attributes and qualities of Brahman.

Jiva attains Moksha through (Mode) Brahman,

that is through the Grace of Brahman the Jiva

attains Moksha.

KrishnAparana

Regards

Gururaj

> >

> > Message: 1

> > Mon, 04 Mar 2002 06:20:55 -0000

> > "psrinivasan99" <psrinivasan99

> > What is meant by Mode of Brahman?

> >

> > Dear Vaishnavas:

> >

> > I have a question which I would like to get

> > clarified.

> >

> > In our real svarupa, we (jivatmas) along with

> > Prakriti are said to

> > be the Body of Brahman (Narayana). This is easy to

> > understand (and

> > also visibly shown to Arjuna).

> >

> > However the jiva is also said to be an attribute

of

> > Brahman. How is

> > it that the jiva, who is a substantive existent,

is

> > also considered

> > an attribute? Also the jiva is said to be a Mode

of

> > Brahman. What is

> > meant by Mode? Can someone kindly elucidate?

> >

> > dasan,

> > P.Srinivasan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try FREE Mail - the world's greatest free email!

/