Existence and Perception in Medieval Vedanta

This volume focuses on the philosophical theology of the South Indian intellectual Vyasatirtha (14601539). Over the past ten years, there has been a surge of interest in Vyasatirthas life and work among modern scholars. Vyasatirtha was a leading figure among the Madhva Vedantins, who trace their tradition back to Madhva Acarya (12381317). Under Vyasatirthas leadership, the Madhva tradition went from being a tradition largely confined to the Kanara region of South India to being a transregional force which enjoyed strong relations with the Vijayanagar emperors and the leaders of the polities that emerged in South India after the empires collapse. The author approaches Vyasatirtha primarily as a philosopher. It focuses chiefly on Vyasatirthas Sanskrit text, the Nyayamta (Nectar of Reasoning). The Nyayamta proved to be the most influential of Vyasatirthas three major works. The text contains an elaborate critique of the philosophy of Vyasatirthas main intellectual enemies: the Advaita (Non-dualistic) Vedantins. The Advaitins denied the ultimate existence of the world our senses reveal to us, arguing that what we refer to as reality is actually a kind of illusion which stands to be annulled by a mystical insight into the pure consciousness that underlies it. This volume gives a philosophical reconstruction of Vyasatirthas defence of theistic realism against the Advaitins. Vyasatirtha argued that the world truly exists in a state of permanent dependence on God. Vyasatirtha refutes the Advaitins claim that the ontological status of the world is indeterminate (anirvacaniya), arguing that the pluralistic world our senses reveal to us is ultimately real. Vyasatirthas critique delves into the most challenging questions that occupied the minds of Indian philosophersthe nature of existence and nonexistence, the possibility and limitations of inferential knowledge, the nature and implications of perceptual illusions for philosophy. The volume contains a translation and commentary on the Prathamamithyatvabhaga of the Nyayamta and several commentaries that were written on this chapter by leading Vedanta philosophers. The volume further focuses on Vyasatirthas complex intellectual relationship to the great epistemologist Gagesa Upadhyaya (fl. 1350). This book also discusses the impact of Vyasatirthas work on Vedanta philosophy, showing how it came to influence leading Madhva and Advaitin philosophers after Vyasatirthas death. Particular focus falls on the work of Madhusudana Sarasvati (fl. 1570), whose critical commentary on the Nyayamta helped publicise the text to a much larger audience.