DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0128
116 Vaishnavism. Division into Sects.
Pradyumna), be so regarded. When the male essence de-
scended as Rama, the female was born as Rama's faithful
wife Slta.; and when the male descended as Krishna, the
female became Krishna's favourite wife Radha.
We now proceed to give a description of the more im-
portant Vaishnava sects,—beginning with those founded by
Ramanuja, Madhva, Vallabha, and Caitanya; and first we
may direct attention to some points in which they all agree.
In the first place, it must be understood that all the sects
agree in maintaining, at least theoretically, that devotion to
Vishnu supersedes all distinctions of caste (compare p. 64).
As a matter of fact, however, it is not to be supposed that
a Vaishnava Brahman ever really gives -up his claim to
superiority over the inferior classes. /
Next, it must be borne in mind that all the Vaishnava sects
are more or less opposed to the pure non-duality (advaita) of
Sankaracarya (see p. 55) which makes the spirit of man iden-
tical with the one Spirit of the Universe (Atma, Brahma).
Further, we may take note of the fact that the bible of
all worshippers of Vishnu in his most popular manifesta-
tion— that of the hero Krishna, with his favourite wife
Radha—consists of two chief books, the Bhagavata-purana
and the Bhagavad-gita; and that those who pay exclusive
adoration to the other popular manifestation of Vishnu—
the hero Rama — also acknowledge two special bibles in
Valmiki's Ramayana, and in the Ramayana of Tulsl-das.
Undoubtedly these four books ought to find a prominent
place among the ' Sacred Books' of our Indian Empire.
Then it must not be forgotten that all agree in the wor-
ship of existing religious teachers who are supposed to be
embodiments, not only of divine wisdom, but of the very
essence of divinity. In the foremost rank must always come
the original founder of each particular sect, whose title is
Acarya. He is regarded as little inferior to Krishna him-
self, and may even be identified with him. As to the living
Pradyumna), be so regarded. When the male essence de-
scended as Rama, the female was born as Rama's faithful
wife Slta.; and when the male descended as Krishna, the
female became Krishna's favourite wife Radha.
We now proceed to give a description of the more im-
portant Vaishnava sects,—beginning with those founded by
Ramanuja, Madhva, Vallabha, and Caitanya; and first we
may direct attention to some points in which they all agree.
In the first place, it must be understood that all the sects
agree in maintaining, at least theoretically, that devotion to
Vishnu supersedes all distinctions of caste (compare p. 64).
As a matter of fact, however, it is not to be supposed that
a Vaishnava Brahman ever really gives -up his claim to
superiority over the inferior classes. /
Next, it must be borne in mind that all the Vaishnava sects
are more or less opposed to the pure non-duality (advaita) of
Sankaracarya (see p. 55) which makes the spirit of man iden-
tical with the one Spirit of the Universe (Atma, Brahma).
Further, we may take note of the fact that the bible of
all worshippers of Vishnu in his most popular manifesta-
tion— that of the hero Krishna, with his favourite wife
Radha—consists of two chief books, the Bhagavata-purana
and the Bhagavad-gita; and that those who pay exclusive
adoration to the other popular manifestation of Vishnu—
the hero Rama — also acknowledge two special bibles in
Valmiki's Ramayana, and in the Ramayana of Tulsl-das.
Undoubtedly these four books ought to find a prominent
place among the ' Sacred Books' of our Indian Empire.
Then it must not be forgotten that all agree in the wor-
ship of existing religious teachers who are supposed to be
embodiments, not only of divine wisdom, but of the very
essence of divinity. In the foremost rank must always come
the original founder of each particular sect, whose title is
Acarya. He is regarded as little inferior to Krishna him-
self, and may even be identified with him. As to the living