Schools of Vedanta
Who is God?
Hinduism has not just one but 6 answers & here’s the tea!
The beauty of our Dharma is that it allows us the flexibility to understand the truth in our own ways, which is called Vedanta, the philosophies explained in the end of Vedas i.e. the Upanishads.
The 6 main interpretations or schools of Vedanta are - Advaita, Viśiṣṭādvaita, Dvaita, Śuddhādvaita and Achintya Bheda Abheda.
1. Advaita (Non-Dualism): Shankara says God is Us - You are God - the formless Brahman - and the world is maya, an illusion. The goal is to wake up to this reality.
2. Viśiṣṭādvaita (Qualified Non-Dualism): Ramanuja compares God to a spider weaving its web. He is not without qualities - he does have a lot of goodness in him. And you're part of God, dependent yet distinct. Your goal is eternal union.
3. Dvaita (Dualism): Madhva sees God as a potter shaping us (the pots) from Prakriti (nature). This universe is his beautiful creation. You and God are entirely separate; your aim is reaching His eternal abode, Vaikuntha.
4. Dvaitādvaita (Dual-Nondual): Nimbarka says God is the Sun; you're His rays - simultaneously distinct yet inseparable. The goal is to join His divine raas-lila, his divine play, and have fun with him.
5. Śuddhādvaita (Pure Non-Dualism): Vallabha teaches God (Krishna) is an actor, the universe His stage. The world is real, God's masterpiece - your purpose? Celebrate and serve Him joyfully.
6. Achintya Bheda Abheda (Inconceivable Dual-Nondual): Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu describes Krishna as fire and us as sparks - simultaneously one yet different, beyond human understanding. So it’s just best to be grateful & humble.
Beyond these, we have Shaiva schools which worship Shiva, and Shakta schools which honour the Devi, each exploring God in their own way.
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