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Reading Non-Dualism in Śivādvaita Vedānta: An Argument from the Śivādvaitanirṇaya in Light of the Śivārkamaṇidīpikā

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Abstract

This article examines Appaya Dīkṣita’s intellectual affiliation to Śivādvaita Vedānta in light of his well-known commitment to Advaita Vedānta. Attention will be given to his Śivādvaitanirṇaya, a short work expounding the nature of the Śivādvaita doctrine taught by Śrīkaṇṭha in his Śaiva-leaning commentary on the Brahmasūtra. It will be shown how Appaya strategically interprets Śrīkaṇṭha’s views on the relationship between Śiva (i.e., Brahman), its power of consciousness (cicchakti) and the individual self (jīva), along the lines of pure non-dualism (śuddhādvaita). In this context, the hermeneutical role of the daharavidyā doctrine will be considered with reference to Appaya’s Śivādvaita magnum opus, the Śivārkamaṇidīpikā.

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Abbreviations

BMB:

Brahmamīmāṃsābhāṣya

BS:

Brahmasūtra

ChU:

Chāndogya Upaniṣad

PU:

Praśna Upaniṣad

SMD:

Śivārkamaṇidīpikā

SN:

Śivādvaitanirṇaya

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  1. Department of Religion, Concordia University, 2060 Mackay Street, Montreal, QC, H3G 2J1, Canada

    Jonathan Duquette

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  1. Jonathan Duquette
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Duquette, J. Reading Non-Dualism in Śivādvaita Vedānta: An Argument from the Śivādvaitanirṇaya in Light of the Śivārkamaṇidīpikā . J Indian Philos 44, 67–79 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10781-014-9231-x

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