“Islam” in Sanskrit doxography: a reconsideration via the writings of Madhusūdana Sarasvatī

In the ongoing debate regarding the construction of the modern concept of “Hinduism”, recent research has considered the ways in which the pre-colonial encounter with Islam may have served as a catalyst in the crystallisation of an increasingly self-aware “Hindu” identity. Andrew Nicholson (Unifying Hinduism, 2010), in particular, has examined the genre of Sanskrit doxography to affirm that such a process of crystallisation was indeed taking place, as the transformations in this genre over time indicate a nascent Hindu identity emerging in the face of the “Muslim threat”. This article reevaluates Nicholson's account with reference to the writings of one Sanskrit intellectual operating at the height of Muslim power in South Asia: the figure of Madhusūdana Sarasvatī (fl. sixteenth-early seventeenth centuries). Madhusūdana's short doxography, the Prasthānabheda, often features in arguments for the pre-colonial roots of the concept of “Hinduism”; Madhusūdana's other doxographical writings, however, are typically neglected. Based upon an analysis of Madhusūdana's Siddhāntabindu and Vedāntakalpalatikā, this article suggests that a more nuanced consideration of the different audiences and authorial intentions that different doxographers had in mind can offer a modified picture of how early modern Sanskrit intellectuals were responding to the Muslim presence in the subcontinent.

Razão (jñāna) e Devoção (bhakti) no Advaita Vedānta: Madhusūdana Sarasvatī (séc. XVI) e o Bhagavad Gītā

Razão (jñāna) e Devoção (bhakti) no Advaita Vedānta: Madhusūdana Sarasvatī (séc. XVI) e o Bhagavad Gītā 1 Resumo: O artigo tem por objetivo empreender a análise dos princípios constitutivos da práxis devocional (bhakti) proposta pelo Bhagavad Gītā, segundo a interpretação do filósofo Madhusūdana Sarasvatī (séc. XVI). Excelso representante do Advaita Vedānta (“[Escola da] Não-Dualidade”), Madhusūdana Sarasvatī buscou incorporar as práticas devocionais à epistemologia tradicional da escola, centrada num exercício radical de reflexão racional (jñāna), em sintonia com os ensinamentos do filósofo fundador Śaṅkarācārya (séc. VIII). Devoto inarredável de Kṛṣṇa, Madhusūdana Sarasvatī cumpriu sua tarefa filosófica em meio a uma interlocução fascinante com a escola Acintyabhedābheda Vedānta (“[Escola da] Não-diferença e da Diferença Inconcebíveis”), fundada por Caitanya Mahāprabhu (séc. XVI), de orientação predominantemente devocionalista vaiṣṇava.Palavras-chave: Devoção. Bhakti. Madhusūdana Sarasvatī. Bhagavad Gītā. Vedānta. Reason (jñāna) and Devotion (bhakti) in Advaita Vedānta: Madhusūdana Sarasvatī (16th century) and the Bhagavad Gītā Abstract: The article aims to undertake the analysis of the constitutive principles of devotional praxis (bhakti) proposed by the Bhagavad Gītā, in accordance with philosopher Madhusūdana Sarasvatī’s (16th century) interpretation. A great representative of Advaita Vedānta (“[School of] Non-Duality”), Madhusūdana Sarasvatī sought to incorporate devotional practices into the school’s traditional epistemology, centered around a radical exercise of rational reflection (jñāna), in line with the teachings of philosopher and founder Śaṅkarācārya (8th century). A great devotee of Kṛṣṇa, Madhusūdana Sarasvatī fulfilled his philosophical task in the midst of a fascinating dialogue with the school Acintyabhedābheda Vedānta (“[School of] Non-difference and Inconceivable Difference”), founded by Caitanya Mahāprabhu (16th century), of a predominant vaiṣṇava devotionalist orientation. Key-words: Devotion. Bhakti. Madhusūdana Sarasvatī. Bhagavad Gītā. Vedānta. Raison (jñāna) et Dévotion (bhakti) dans Advaita Vedānta: Madhusūdana Sarasvatī (XVIe siècle) et la Bhagavad Gītā Résumé: L'article vise à entreprendre l'analyse des principes constitutifs de la praxis dévotionnelle (bhakti) proposée par le Bhagavad Gītā, selon l'interprétation du philosophe Madhusūdana Sarasvatī (XVIe siècle). Représentant notable d'Advaita Vedānta («[École de] non-dualité»), Madhusūdana Sarasvatī a cherché à incorporer les pratiques de dévotion dans l'épistémologie traditionnelle de son école, centrée sur un exercice radical de réflexion rationnelle (jñāna), conformément aux enseignements du philosophe fondateur Śaṅkarācārya (8ème siècle). Un ardent dévot de Kṛṣṇa, Madhusūdana Sarasvatī a accompli sa tâche philosophique au milieu d'un dialogue fascinant avec l'école Acintyabhedābheda Vedānta («[École de] la différence non-différence et inconcevable»), fondée par Caitanya Mahāprabhu (XVIe siècle), et dont l’ orientation est principalement dévotionnelle vaiṣṇava. Mots clés: Dévotion. Bhakti. Madhusūdana Sarasvatī. Bhagavad Gītā. Vedānta. Data de registro: 30/07/2020 Data de aceite: 21/10/2020 1 As palavras transliteradas do sânscrito seguem as normas do International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (I.A.S.T.). Todas as traduções de originais em sânscritos foram feitas pelo autor