[Advaita-l] Another instance of Advaita wrongly comprehended

[Praveen R. Bhat]

Hari Om, Subbuji,

Its unfortunate indeed that Bhagavatpada is so hopelessly misunderstood.
Dasa-ru could have very well replaced the third line with "One shruti
mantra said tattvamasi" and taken it from there!

Kind rgds,
--Praveen R. Bhat
/* Through what should one know That owing to which all this is known!
[Br.Up. 4.5.15] */


On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 at 3:25 PM, V Subrahmanian <v.subrahmanian at gmail.com>wrote:

> Here is a song purportedly authored by Sri Purandara Dasa:
>
>
> Obba Acharyanu Daiva ve Illavenda ,
> Obba Acharyanu Daiva ke Entu gunavenda ,
> Obba Acharyanu Nirguna Nirakara Niravyaya nenda - Kadeyalli Tanae
> Daivavenda
> Obbaru Vedartha aritu Ariyaru
> Obba Madhwacharyare Purandara Vitthalanobbane Daivavendu Torisakottaraagi
>
> ಒಬ್ಬ ಆಚಾರ್ಯನು ದೈವವೇ ಇಲ್ಲವೆಂದ ,
> ಒಬ್ಬ ಆಚಾರ್ಯನು ದೈವಕೆ ಏಂಟು ಗುಣವೆಂದ,
> ಒಬ್ಬ ಆಚಾರ್ಯನು ನಿರ್ಗುಣ ನಿರಾಕಾರ ನಿರವಯನೆಂದ
> ಕಡೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಾನೇ ದೈವವೆಂದ
> ಒಬ್ಬರೂ ವೇದಾರ್ಥ ಅರಿತೂ ಅರಿಯರು
> ಒಬ್ಬ ಮಧ್ವಾವಚಾರ್ಯರೇ ಪುರಂದರ ವಿಠ್ಟಲನೊಬ್ಬನೇ ದೈವವೆಂದು ತೋರಿಸಿಕೊಟ್ಟರಾಗಿ
>
> The meaning of which is:
>
> One Acharya proclaimed 'there is no God' [Buddha?]
> One Acharya said 'God has eight attributes' [Ramanuja?]
> One Acharya said  'attributeless, formless, partless' and ultimately said
> 'I am myself God' [Shankara ?]
> None of these, though knowing the meaning of the Veda, really knew.
> Only Acharya Madhwa taught that Purandara ViTThala alone is God.
>
>
> One can easily see that the above is not a correct representation of
> Advaita.  Even though Advaita holds the Supreme Reality to be devoid of
> attributes, form and parts, there is no declaration of identity of the
> self, jiva, with 'god' which is Ishwara.  For 'Ishwara' Advaita does admit
> attributes and forms-at-will.  The distinction that is made between Ishwara
> and (nirguna) Brahman in Advaita is generally overlooked by critics of
> Advaita and the charge that advaitins identify themselves with Ishwara
> which is saguNa-brahman. is very commonly made.  The above song is just one
> instance.
>
> regards
> subrahmanian.v
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