4 CRITIQUE OF MADHVA REFUTATION OF THE SAMKARA SCHOOL OF VEDANTA By K NARAIN, MA, D Fan UDAYANA PUBLICATIONS ALLAHABAD 1964PUBLISHED BY UDAYANA PUBLICATIONS 10, ALLENGUNJ, ALLAHABAD PRINTED BY RAM PRATAP TRIPATHI AT THE SAMMELAN MUDRANALALA ALLAHABADPREFACE Time and again Samkara’s philosophical position has been criticized, not only hy the Western enttics but also by many eminent philosophers of India who happen to be the propounders of diffe- rent systems of philosophy and faith. No doubt, their criticism is the foundation on which they have raised the edifice of their philosophical theory, yet from the point of view of Samtharite phi- losophy it has proved beneficial inasmuch as it has provided with a stimulus the 1esponse against which is available in the whole of the Sarhkarite literature. In the history of this criticism, the Madhva refutation is probably the most vehement and provoking because of the uncompromising dualism of Madhva’s philosophical posi- tion. The virulence of their attack, specially of Jaya-Tirtha and Vy4sa-Tirtha, is such as has compelled the Sarnkarites to re-exa- mine their philosophical foundations and write treatises in defenc: the most important of which is Madhustidana’s Advaita-siddhi. A study of this refutation is important as it presents to utmost logical subtlety all the deeper aspects of the varied philosophical presuppositions whose comprehension is necessary for a firm deci- sion about the validity of either of the two antagonistic philoso- phical pomts of view, the monistic and the pluralistic, It is im- portant also because it can by guiding the reader through the wilderness of Dialectics bring him to a state of decision about the truch of either Idealism or Realism. In mv exposition of this refutation I have endeavoured to present the Sambarite position in detail and have elaborated the various Post-Sathkarite opinions that have been taken by the Madhva philosophers as the pirva-paksa, This not only facilitates the clear presentation of the theme but also renders the compre- hension of the discourse more easy. In doing this I have tried to depend always on original sources.