Book Title: World of Philosophy
Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
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Navya Visiṣṭādvaita Vedanta Philosophy of Śri Swaminārāyan
- Dr. Ramesh M Dave
Late justice M.G. Ranade notes that, 'Swāminārāyana is the last Acarya of the Vedantic tradition. He, at the same time, is an early representative of Neo-Hinduism'.
Śri Swaminārāyaṇa alias Sahajananda Swami (2nd April 1781 to 1st June 1830) hailed from Capiya a village in North India, but worked and taught in Gujarat. He brought about a number of social reforms in the chaotic first quarter of the nineteenth century, in Gujarat.
Like the great Śri Vaiñṇava alvar saint Śri Saöhagopa. Śri Swaminārāyaṇa too firmly believed that 'if religion is to reach the hearts of the common people, religious truths should be conveyed to them in a language understood by them.' He, therefore, preached all his philosophy and religion in Gujarati - the language understood by the people. This had deep and penetrating effect on the life of the people of Gujarat.
The Vedas. Prasthana- trayi (i.e. Vedānta-Sutras, Upaniñads and Geetā). Mahābhārata, Śri Bhagawatam, Vasudeva-Mahatmya section of Skanda-Purāṇa and Yajiavalkya smḥti are the sources acceptable to Śri Swāminārāyaṇa. Sāìkhya, Yoga, Païcarātra and Vedanta are the bases for determining the nature of the highest ontological reality. Of course, we get the fullest picture of his Vedantic philosophy and religion from his two major works, namely Vacanāmḥtam' and Sikṣāpatri. In addition, the commentaries on Prasthana-trayi by Gopālānanda Swami, commentary on SandilyaSutras by Nityananda Swami and the works of Sri Kriñṇavallabhacharya viz Swāminārāyaṇa-Vedantasära. Tattva-prabhāvali, SwāminārāyaṇaDarshanam and Brahmarasāyaṇabhāsya are some of the important works explicating the vedantic tradition of Swāmi-nārāyaṇa. In addition, the 'Swāminārāyaṇa Bhasya' on Brahmasutra, Upanishads and Geeta by Sadhu Bhadreshadas The present article largely relies on the two major works of Swāmi-nārāyaṇa Himself (viz. Vacannāmḥtam' and sikñāpatri) and wherever necessary supports and supplements, it with appropriate references from above sources.
Swāminārāyaṇa was a master of Vedic lore and scriptural literature. He was a genius in his methodology of arguments and exposition. He was the exponent of the Upaniñadic doctrine of Brahman and Parabrahman.
Swāminārāyaṇa's 'Vacannāmritam' is a work, which leaves nothing unexplored in philosophy and religion of Swaminārāyaṇa-Vaiñṇavism. It contains the touch, polish and finish of his profundity of intellect and stupendous knowledge and experience. It consists of the loftiness of thought, clarity of expression, infallible logic and easy-original solutions to the most
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