Sri Vallabhacharya - Pushti Darshan

THE SCHOOL OF VALLABHA
II
There were several schools of the Vedantic thought before Sankaracarya (A.D. 783-820), and attempts have been
made by scholars to collect materials that might throw light on these pre.Sankara systems. It is, however, not possible
to get a systematic account of their views, and consequently the history of the Vedanta really begins with the system
of Sankaracarya. The earliest known critic of Sankaracarya is Bhaskara (ninth century who strongly attacks his
doctrine of Maya. later on, a host of critics of Sankara, such as Ramanuja, Nimbarka, Madhava and Vallabha,
appeared one after another. These thinker who happened to be followers of the Bhagavata School, could not accept
Sankara's interpretation of the basic texts, namely, the Upanisads, the Gita, and the Brahma-.Sutra and offered their
own interpretations, thereby enriching the literature on the Vedanta. Moreover, the abstract, philosophical
speculations of Sankara could not naturally make much appeal to the masses who found sufficient spiritual food in the
bhakti (devotion) Schools of Ramanuja and others. In o her words, jnana (knowledge) lost its previous hold and made
room for bhakti which had been progressively gaining in strength.
1. Mm. Kuppuswami Sastri, 'Acarya Sundara Pandya', Journal of Oriental Research, Madras, 1.5;
'Baudhayana and Dramidacarya', Proceedings of the Third All-India Oriental Conference, p. 465. Prof. M.
Hiriyanna, 'Bhartrprapanca,' Indian Antiquary, June 1924, p. 77. Proceeding of the Third- All-India Oriental
Conference, p.449. 'Brahmadatta, Proceedings of the fourth ALL-India Oriental Conference, p. 787. Mm.
Dr. P. V. Kane ' Vedanta commentators before Sankaracarya', Proceedings of the Fifth All-India Oriental
Conference , pp.937-953. Mm. Dr. Vidhusckhara Bhaltaarya, The Agamasdstra of Gaudapada,
Introduction, pp. 103-113.