Bhakti Schools of Vedanta

Written to show that other teachers besides Shankara have equal status as teachers of Vedanta and that Advaita Vedanta is not the only important teaching of Vedanta, Bhakti Schools of Vedanta discusses alternative paths for spiritual aspirants through the Bhakti-Vedanta systems of thought.

Presented here are the lives and philosophies of Sri Ramanuja, Sri Nimbarka, Sri Madhvacarya, Sri Vallabhacarya and Sri Caitanya, the founders of the major Vaishnava philosophical schools. It must be remembered that, while critical of Shankara's teachings, criticism is the essence of philosophical development, and each successive school is either a rejection or an elaboration of earlier doctrines. The teachings of these five Archaryas are addressed to those who do not find a congenial intellectual climate in Shankara's teachings.

First printed in 1990, a new edition of Bhakti Schools of Vedanta has been long overdue. In this second edition, the book has been reset with a larger typeface (resulting in an additional 100 pages) and has been printed on higher quality paper than the first edition. The book has a beautiful new cover and an index has been added. The only downside is that the five renderings of the teachers of the bhakti schools are no longer in color, but in black and white. Nevertheless, this book is an example of the vast improvement in the quality of Indian printing methods, and we are pleased to add this new edition to our collection.