2016/04/01 by Sadhu Bhadreshdas, Sadhu Aksharananddas · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · #Indian and Buddhist Studies #History
paper · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199463749.003.0011
published in Oxford University Press eBooks, 172-190 (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 2016/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Within the Indian philosophical tradition, great emphasis is placed on the elaboration of the nature of brahmajñana (or knowledge of brahman), a major recurring theme in the Hindu scriptures. Commentators such as Shankara, Ramanuja, and Vallabha all offer their elaborations of this jñana according to their philosophical treatise. Their explanations express a distinctive metaphysics, which not only distinguishes them from each other, but also play an instrumental role in identifying the philosophical system proposed by the respective commentator. Following this tradition, Swaminarayan presents a unique discussion of the nature of brahmajñana in the Vachanamrut, a compilation of his discourses. In doing so he offers a metaphysical distinction between Aksharabrahman and Parabrahman that both uniquely and appropriately identifies his philosophical doctrine as Aksharabrahma-Parabrahma-Darsanam.