Advaita Vedanta and Vaisnavism
The Philosophy of Madhusudana Sarasvati

Although a strict monist, Madhusudana Sarasvati, who lived in sixteenth century Bengal, tried to make a synthesis between his monistic philosophy and his theology of emotional love for God. This book provides a study of Sarasvati's thoughts. It explores the religious context of his works, offering insights into Indian philosophy and theology.

In Indian philosophy and theology, the ideology of Vedanta occupies an important position. Hindu religious sects accept the Vedantic soteriology, which believes that there is only one conscious reality, Brahman from which the entire creation, both conscious and non-conscious, emanated. Madhusudana Sarasvati, who lived in sixteenth century Bengal and wrote in Sanskrit, was the last great thinker among the Indian philosophers of Vedanta. During his time, Hindu sectarians, rejected monistic Vedanta. Although a strict monist, Madhusudana tried to make a synthesis between his monistic philosophy and his theology of emotional love for God. Sanjukta Gupta provides the only comprehensive study of Madhusudana Sarasvati's thoughts. It explores the religious context of his extensive and difficult works, offering invaluable insights into Indian philosophy and theology.

1. Introduction
2. Illusion (Avidya)
3. Knowledge and Epistemology
4. Brahman and the Sentient World
5. Material World and Cosmogony
6. Advaita-Vedanta Salvation
7. Bhakti, the Theology of Aesthetics and Divine Love