Of late, I am finding posts in
Social Media citing several examples heard orally, or seen in dialectic texts
of Dvaita & Advaita systems of philosophical thought, posted on daily
basis! The overzealous young, I am sure are hurt by the alleged ‘ insult’ to
their belief systems. Since practitioners on both sides are minimum, it looks just another street fight amid some
office hour traffic!
It all begins with the abuse of Advaita founder by the other school, by Narayana Panditaru, junior contemporary of Madhvacharya. There are 13 Chapters in Manimanjari of the author, where few verses criticize and comment on Shankaracharya, his background, previous attempts by some Advaitins to trouble newly formed Madhva school of Philosophy, earlier Bhagavata Sampradaya, in retaliation to such mischiefs, the author has picked up some instances of Shankara's life, disciples and his interpretation of Upanishads and Gita. He is called Pracchanna Bouddha, Buddhist in disguise, not by him for first time, even earlier by Bhaskarachaaya, Kumarila, and Vedantadeshika also. Since, the followers of those schools live outside Karnataka, it lies unknown here in vernacular language.
Shankara is most popular Philosopher, followed by a majority here, and elsewhere, known through Ramakrishna Mission and Ashrama Publications, widely. While there is no such large presence of Madhva's philosophy worldwide, he is almost unknown as a saint of Bhakti School, not a philosopher!!
Even Madhvacharya is mocked at in one Ishana Stuti, Manikya Manjari and other works by the other school, which is unknown by these self styled scholars on FB and social media!
As he is unknown, younger folk on Social Media, furiously engage themselves, without reading the original texts, end up with personal words of choicest abuses, hurled on personally unknown people, arousing them to put their words in place. But, what they fail to understand is, in olden days, proving a stand by one school of thought was considered a token of scholarship, pedagogy, mastery of Grammar and Logic, by either of them. It all mostly, went in the form of manuscripts written in favors or against another school in a dignified manner, sometimes even not quoting the names of other School of Thought referred to. They just say “ Anye…”. As claimed by others or other party.
तत् संनिकृष्टमपिवा मतमाश्रयध्वम् - Vedanta Deshika says: If you don't have any chance other than Advaita, better be friends with our nearest friends- Dvaitins! ( Shatadushani ) He was a great Vishistadvaita Saint after Ramanuja. Here, there is no major dispute between two schools, though they criticise either.
However, there appears either of them carry any ill will or spew venom of words. Now, the young lot, who are masters in handling social media, but fail to notice the nitty gritty of argument, end up in verbal fight, typed and posted prompting other to reply. It is interesting to notice that none of them are aware of niceties of Samskrita Grammar, syntax, logic and maxims- Yuktis of our earlier scholars. I am sure, none of our elders carried any agenda to write any book to answer relevant objections of another school of thought.
However, today, we don’t find such a systematic way of debating in any place of study/university to arrive at a mutually agreed conclusion in search of Truth!! Also, each ritual varies from geographical area, affiliated Matha or even households.
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