Advaitamoda – A Study of Advaita and Visistadvaita (An Old and Rare Book )

Description

Advaitamoda (“the fragrance of Advaita”) by Mahamahopadhyaya Vasudevasastri Abhyankar is a very useful book for understanding the two great Vedanta tradition: Advaita Vedanta and Visistadvaita Vedanta Advaitanmoda contains four chapters the first two chapters present the teachings of Advalta and of Visistadvalita respectively. Then follows a summa-tion of the differences between these two traditions. The third and fourth chapters enter into a detailed critique of the arguments which Ramanuja advanced against Advaita in the LAGHU and MAHASIDHANTA portions of his great work, the SRI BHASYA. The procedure followed in these chapters is that a passage from the SRI BHASYA is firstly cited and then taken up for discussion, In the way, most of the LAGHU and MAHASIKHANTA portions of SRI BHASYA syastemtionally quoted and discussed.

Dr. Michael Oomans from the Australian National University, who has studied Advaita Vedanta in traditional manner over a number of years, has translated the Advaitanmoda from Sanskrit into English . In addition to the translation, he has written a commentary in English upon much of the text, where he explains and elaborates various topics as they arise.

This commentary is very helpful, especially as it provides an accurate and detailed understanding of Advaita Vedanta. This work for all students of Indian Philosophy and especially those who are interested in the Vedanta traditions. The book contains an Introduction, Detailed Table of Contents the Translation of Advaitanmoda with Oommentray, the Sanskrit text an Index. The foreword is by Professor J.V. de Jong.