2025

The Vedantic Vision Of Śrīmaṅta Śaṅkaradeva: A Synthesis Of Monism And Devotion

Author(s): Sri Tarun Chutia

Abstract

Śrīmaṅta Śaṅkaradeva (1449-1568 A.D.), a seminal figure in the socio-cultural and religious renaissance of medieval Assam, grounded his teachings within the Vedantic framework, while simultaneously diverging from traditional schools to forge a distinctive philosophical perspective. This paper explores Śrīmaṅta Śaṅkaradeva’s Vedantic outlook, examining his agreements and disagreements with key Vedantic schools such as Advaita Vedānta and Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta, and elucidates his contributions to Indian philosophy. Highlighting his reconciliation of non-dualistic metaphysics with bhakti (devotion) to Krishna, the study argues for a distinct philosophical identity that integrates elements of transcendental knowledge and practical devotion.