The Essence of Vaisnavism

Summary

The article by Dr. Surya Kanta explores the philosophical foundations of Vaisnavism. Using Hegel's definition, it emphasises that religion and philosophy both aim to realise the eternal truth—the Absolute Being or God—and that Vaishnavism is a philosophy of devotion (bhakti). The article argues that ignorance (maya) binds the soul by causing it to identify with mind and body, and emancipation is achieved by right perception and devotion to Lord Krsna, described as the self‑existent Absolute possessing existence, knowledge and blissfile:///home/oai/share/563032_compressed-391-518.pdf#:~:text=mind%2C%20the%20senses%2C%20and%20the,Vaisnavism%2C%20is%20Lord%20511%20Krsna%E2%80%94. It discusses the concept of advaya (non‑dual reality) where the Absolute is both immanent and transcendentfile:///home/oai/share/563032_compressed-391-518.pdf#:~:text=,substance%20in%20which%20inhere%20endless, and identifies Krsna as the supreme being whose potencies (Sandhini, Samvit and Hladini) express existence, consciousness and blissfile:///home/oai/share/563032_compressed-391-518.pdf. The article draws from Upanishadic and Puranic texts to show how devotion to Krsna harmonises energy and knowledge, culminating in the love of Radha and Krsnafile:///home/oai/share/563032_compressed-391-518.pdf. It concludes that Vaishnavism synthesises ritual, devotion and knowledge, offering a path to balance and bliss, and urges modern people to return to God to overcome irreligiosityfile:///home/oai/share/563032_compressed-391-518.pdf#:~:text=15%20the%20climax%20of%20this,the%205%E0%AB%AF05%E0%AB%AF%20cf%20the%20invisible.