Philosophers of Vaishnavism Movement

During medieval period, philosophers such as Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbarkacharya, and Vallabhacharya started Various Vaishnava Sampryadaya. Vaishnava-inspired scholars authored 14 Vishnu avatar-focussed Upanishads that are called the Vaishnava Upanishads. These Upanishads quote the texts included in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Chandogya Upanishad, Katha Upanishad, Isha Upanishad, Mundaka Upanishad, Taittiriya Upanishad and others.
The Bhagavad Gita is a central text in Vaishnavism, and especially in the context of Krishna. The two Indian epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana also present Vaishnava philosophy and culture.
These philosophers established different schools of vedant which are as under:

​
SN    Philosopher       Vedant School    Paramatma              Jivatma (Chit)                     Maya (Jagat)
                                                                  Iswar (Supreme)
1   Shankar Acharya  Advait                   Real, Nirgun             Same as Paramatma           Illusion
       (788-820 AD)
2 Ramanuj Acharya Vishishtadvait      Real, Sagun                   Real                                    Real            
 (1017-1137 AD)                                      (Vishnu or Krishna)        (Both are controlled by Parmatma)                                              
3.Nimbark Acharya  Dvaita-advait          Real                            Real, exist                          Real, exist        
     (1028-1125 AD)                                (Krishna & Radha)         (Both are dependent on Parmatma)                                                                                                  
4.Madhv Acharya    Dvaita                       Real                             Real                                     Real             
     (1294-1317 AD)                                 (Lakshmi Narayan)      (Both are fundamentally different from Ishwar)
5.Vallabh Acharya  Shuddha Dvait          Real                             Real                                      Real               
     (1479-1532 AD)                                (Krishna)         (Different from Ishwar & Clouded by avidya) Power of Ishwar

 Adi Shankaraacharya, Sri Ramanujacharaya, Sri Nimbarkacharaya and Sri Madhvacharaya were conferred title of Jagat guru.​

1. Sripad or Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 AD) born in Kaladi village in Kerala – founded Advait Vedant School of Hinduism i.e. non dualism –that this world is an illusion (maya); only Brahman (Parabrahman) is ultimate reality and jiva is not different from Brahman. He established four matha, Bharati (Sringeri), Sarasvati (Kanchi), Tirtha and Asramin (Dvaraka). Adi Shankara is most known for his systematic reviews and commentaries (Bhasyas) on ancient Indian texts.

 
Adi Shankara who believed to be advocated Jnana marg, also emphasised the importance of devotion and wrote Bhaja Govindam of 33 verses: 

• भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं, गोविन्दं भज मूढमते । सम्प्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले नहि नहि रक्षति डुकृङ्करणे ॥
• (Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, oh fool!

At the time of your death, Rules of grammar will not save you.)
 
    When intelligence (jnana) matures and lodges securely in the heart, it becomes wisdom (vignyana). 
    When that wisdom (vignyana) is integrated with life and issues out in action, it becomes devotion (bhakti). 
    Knowledge (jnana) which has become mature is spoken of as devotion (bhakti). 
 

1. Ramanujacharya (1017-1137 AD), born in Chennai: By his preaching thousands of jains became Vaishnavas.
   1. He founded a math, known as Yatiraja Math in Melukote (Karnataka).
   2. His doctrine of upasna & bhakti is known as Vishishtadvait – qualified monoism.
   3. Advaita says the world is an illusion, Visistadvaita says the world is real. Advaita says Jivatma and Paramatma are the same; Visistadvaita says Jivatma and Paramatma have a body-soul relationship. Advaita says that the supreme Brahman is Nirguna, Visistadvaita says the supreme Brahman is Saguna. Soul and matter are totally dependent on God for their existence, as is the body on the soul.
   4. His doctrine mentions 3 eternal realities i.e jiva (chit, soul, the sentient), jagat (maya, achit) and Ishwar (parbrahman). Parbrhman is independent and yet controller of both chit and achit. Sri Vishnu, Sri Narayan, Sri Vasudeva, Sri Krishna are all considered as Parabrahman.
   5. His works include Vedarth Sangrah, Sri Bhashya, Gita Bhashya, Vedant deep, Vedant sar, Sharnagati Gadya, Srirang Gadya, Sri Vaikunth Gadya and Nitya Granth.

 

1. Nimbarkacharya (1028-1125 AD), born in Nimbpura in Bellary district Karnataka, stayed in Virindavan:
   1. He propounded Dvaita-advait philosophy – means dualistic no-dualism. He also believed in three eternal realities – Brahman (Ishwar – Kridhna & Radha), Jiva (chit) and Jagat (Achit).  Jiva and Jagat are different from Ishwar. Ishwar is independent and exists by himself, while Jiva and Jagat' have existence dependent upon Him.
   2. He first time introduced “Madhurya Bhakti” (melodious devotion) of Sri Krishna & Radha – with attitude of sakhi bhav. According to Nimbark, there are five sadhanas – Karma (nishkam bhav), Jnan (knowledge of brahman & self), Upasna (meditating on Brahman), Prapatti (total self-surrender to parmatama) and Guruprasatti (self-surrender to the spiritual preceptor).
   3. His works include Nimbark’s Bhashya.

 

1. Madhvacharya son of Narayan (1294-1317 AD), born in Vill. Pajak, Udipi, Karnataka: He defeated the Advait, Jain and Bhuddha sampradayas. He founded eight maths in udipi.
   1. He advocated offering ball of rice flour shaped like sheep in yagnas in place of actual animal sacrifice.
   2. He established a strict observance of ekadasi.
   3. He propounded Dvaita philosophy means there is a fundamental difference between the human soul or atman and the ultimate reality, brahman.
   4. Madav’s davit regards brahman as supreme reality and advocates its adoration. His school of bhakti identify with Vishnu and upasana of Narayan with Laxmi. Madhav advocates seva to Narayan in three ways which are instrument of Sadhanrup Bhakti: Taptamudra (imprinting of Narayan’s weapons on one’s body); to name one’s offspring with names of Narayan and ten forms of devotion done physically three–to donate deserving ones, uplift the needy & protecting devout helpless; mentally three – mercy on helpless, only one wish i.e. to become servant of Narayan & faith / Shraddha in guru’s command & shastras and by speech four - speak truth, speak benevolently, speak soothingly & to study / swadhyaya.
   5. His works include commentaries on the 10 major Upanishads, the Mahabharat and Bhagavatam.

 

1. Vallabhacharya son of Telgu Brahmin-lakshman bhatt & Illammagaru (1479 - 1532 AD), born in Champaranya, Raipur, stayed in Kashi. He established Pushti (means Poshan, nourish) Sampradaya.    
   • He propounded Shuddha Dvait or pure dualism i.e. Brahman is independent reality and is identified as Krishna. His essence is existence (Sat), Knowledge (Chit) and Bliss (Anand). The individual soul is not the Supreme (sat-chit-anand) clouded by the force of avidya, but is itself Brahman, with one attribute (ananda) rendered imperceptible. The soul is both a doer and enjoyer. It is atomic in size, but pervades the whole body through its essence of intelligence. Unlike Advaita, the world of Maya is not regarded as unreal, since Maya is nothing else than a power of Ishvara. He is not only the creator of the universe but is the universe itself.
   • He advocated Krishna seva. He accepted 4 types: Das Bhav (as a humble servant), Sakha Bhav (as a friend), Vatsalya Bhav (caring as foster parents) and Madur Bhav (offering loving devotion). Vatsalya bhav is predominant in Pushti marg.
   • His works include Anubhashya commentary on Brahma sutra.

 
  
 
 
References:

1. Rishis, Mystics & Heros of India volume 1 by Sadhu Mukundcharandas, Swaminarayan Aksharpith, Shahibaugh Road, Amdavad - 4, India
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaja_Govindam
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adi_Shankara