Unity & Diversity of Philosophies of Vedanta

The Hinduism has always been organic and living. The Hindu philosophers thoroughly probed the origin & dynamics of the world.
 
During medieval period, the Vaishnava philosophers (Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Nimarkacharya, Madhvacharya and Vallabhacharya) propounded the various conceptions on source of origin of the world and its diversity. The schools of thoughts are mainly divided into five. These schools of Vedanta differ only in their conception of the nature of that unity in its relationship with diversity i.e. God (Formless or Formed Brahman) and diversity in world of animate and inanimate.
 
Non-Duality v/s Duality:
While Sankara’s system looks upon Non-duality as the sublation of diversity, others look upon, Non-duality as the subordination of all duality to the principle of Unity i.e. the Supreme Being. Each school of Vedanta therefore propounds its own notion of the relationship of unity with diversity. But all deny anything independent of Sat-Chit-Ananda.
 
Important differences of Vaisnava Philosophies:

1. Supreme Being (God) –
2. In Shankara’s Advaitic System – Supreme spiritual reality (Brahman) is non-dual, attribute-less, formless, indeterminate and acosmic Absolute.
3. In Vaishnava Systems – Supreme Being is the repository of all the auspicious qualities, with form and God of creation. God is the ultimate reality and there is no Absolute apart from Him.

 
 Jiva (Atman, soul) –

1. In Shankara’s System – Jiva is identical to the Brahman in its essence i.e. after elimination of the adjuncts (body, mind, ego etc.). The adjuncts are unreal.
2. In Vaishnava Systems – Jiva is only an aspect, part potency or attribute of Brahman, distinguishable but not necessarily different. Some hold him to be distinct both in bondage and in salvation, while some others maintain, that the distinction will cease with liberation when the Jiva merges in Brahman.
   

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Creation of world –

1. In Shankara’s System – the creation is unreal.
2. In Vaishnava Systems – The creation is real.

 
Samsara (State of Bondage) –

1. In Shankara’s System – the state of bondage and release from it, are only unreal assumptions resulting from ignorance.
2. In Vaisnava Systems – Bondage is a real state and release from it is a real achievement to be had by appropriate means.

 
Jnana (Wisdom) –

1. In Shankara’s System – The Jnana of unity of the Atman with Brahman is the means of Salvation.
2. In Vaishnava Systems – The Bhakti (intense devotion & dedication to the God) is the means of Salvation.

 
Goal of life –

1. In Shankara’s System – Release from bondage is the goal.
2. In Vaishnava Systems – Service of the Supreme Being in His eternal Realm is the ideal of most of the Vaishnava Schools.

 
Reference: Bhakti Schools of Vedanta – by Swami Tapasyananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.