Hare Krishna to all the devotees
All glories to srila Prabhupada
Does Advaita means mayavad(at least that's what Google says)? It so why did mahaprabhu took Advaita sanyas, but I know that he and all the other companions of Mahaprabhu were devotees?
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Hare Krsna
why did mahaprabhu took Advaita sanyas ?
I am not sure if there is such a thing called as Advaita Sannyasa. First one needs to understand What is Sannyasa and Why Lord Chaitanya accepted sannyasa order of Life.
What is Sannyasa ?
As per Varnashrama system there are 4 sequential Ashramas - Brahmacarya, Grihastha, Vanaprashta and Sannyasa. These 4 orders are for systematic and progressive development of spiritual practice in general. Following is the definition of Sannyasa given by Sri Krsna in Bhagavada Gita
kāmyānāṁ karmaṇāṁ nyāsaṁ
sannyāsaṁ kavayo viduḥ
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The giving up of activities that are based on material desire is what great learned men call the renounced order of life [sannyāsa].
Sannyasa Ashram is the highest among the 4 and is only for highest most elevated practitioners of spirituality who can completely renounce material aspects of life. Sannyasis have no agenda of material profit. All 4 varnas & other 3 ashrams highly respect the Sannyasa order. Even though Sannyasis are highly spiritually elevated but are still considered part of society. They being part of society is for the spiritual benefit of society. Sannyasi is one who is constantly in touch with paramatma and never deviates from voice of paramatma. Socially speaking - Only a sannyasi can instruct another sannyasi and only a sannyasi can give Sannyasa diksha to other aspirants. Even kshatriyas, kings, emperors are to respect and follow instructions of a sannyasi because of their purity and spiritual potency. Thus Sannyasis have the highest position in all of vedic society.
Why did Lord Chaitanya accept Sannyasa ?
ataeva avaśya āmi sannyāsa kariba
sannyāsi-buddhye more praṇata ha-iba
praṇatite ha’be ihāra aparādha kṣaya
nirmala hṛdaye bhakti karāiba udaya
I shall accept the sannyāsa order of life, for thus people will offer Me their obeisances, thinking of Me as a member of the renounced order.
“Offering obeisances will relieve them of all the reactions to their offenses. Then, by My grace, devotional service [bhakti] will awaken in their pure hearts.( CC Adi 17.265-266)
Thus Lord Chaitnaya's intention was to awaken bhakti in people's hearts and give to them Krsna Prema. Lord Chaitanya wanted people to respect Him due to His sannyasa order. Thus it was important to accept sannyasa from the most imperative sampradaya at that time.
I am not sure it there is a term called - Advaita Sannyasa. Requesting to please provide a reference for this term from an authorized source.
Lord Sri Cahitanya Mahaprabhu accepted Sannyasa Diksha from Keshava Bharati.
Keśava Bhāratī: The Sarasvatī, Bhāratī and Purī sampradāyas belong to the Śṛṅgerī-maṭha in South India, and Śrī Keśava Bhāratī, who at that time was situated in a monastery in Katwa, belonged to the Bhāratī-sampradāya. According to some authoritative opinions, although Keśava Bhāratī belonged to the Śaṅkara-sampradāya, he had formerly been initiated by a Vaiṣṇava. (Purport CC Adi 9.13.-15)
Why did mahaprabhu took sannyass from Sankara Sampradaya ?
It suited Lord Chaitanya's purpose in 2 ways
1. Because that was the most respected Sannyasa Sampradaya at that time. So people in general would respect Him and get bhakti in return. Refer to shloka ( CC Adi 17.265-266) above
2. Because there were too many mayavadis at that time and they did not respect Sri Krsna. Lord Chaitanya wanted to give Krsna bhakti to mayavadis also.
jagat ḍubāite āmi kariluṅ yatana
tā-sabā ḍubaite pātiba kichu raṅga
Thus Lord Chaitanya tricked mayavadis to respect Him and delivered them. Example - Prakashananda Saraswati & others in Varanasi.
prabhure praṇata haila sannyāsīra gaṇa
ātma-madhye goṣṭhī kare chāḍi’ adhyayana
All the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs offered their obeisances unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then began to discuss His movement, giving up their studies of Vedānta and Māyāvāda philosophy. CC Madhya 25.22)
Lord Chaitnya never accepted mayavada Philosophy, in fact he clearly explained to Mayavadi Sannyasis that their philosophy is incorrect.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna
Does Advaita means mayavad ?
Technically no, but the distinction is so subtle that most followers of advaita philosophy don't know the difference between Advaita and mayavada. So very often advaita means mayavada.
In a simplistic manner of speaking Advaita Philosophy says the following
1. Everything is Brahman.
2. This world is illusion. Not real.
3. When Jiva is liberated, Jiva attains Brahman
The distinction between Advaita and Mayavada is most prominent (among many) in the 2nd statement above. When Advaita Philosophy says this material world is illusion, it implies everything within this material world is also illusion.
Mayavada interepretation is that When everything in this material world is illusion, then the manifestation or avatar of Parabrahma Bhagavan or Supreme Personality of Sri Krsna , Sri Rama, Sri Narasimha etc within this material world is also illusion or maya. Hence their philosophhy is called Mayavada.
There is also a possible interpretation within advaita philosophy which is not explained/explored well. It is possible for Parabrahma to manifest within this illusory world without being entangled in the material world.
Vaishnava philosophy contary to the above are as follows
1. Everything is energy of Brahman.
2. This world is illusory, temporary, but Real.
3. When Jiva is liberated, Jiva attains transcendence, but Jiva still remains distinct person than Supreme Personality of Godhead. This distinction enables transcendental reciprocation between Jiva and Krsna
Hare Krsna
I must appreciate Bharat Prabhu ji for his wonderful explaination on this. Superb.
Hare Krishna prabhuji
I understand now. It just I want to ask that, does Advaita means mayavad?
Hare Krsna. What is mayavada according to you? How can you define mayavada? This can clarify your question. Hari Hari.
Hare Krishna
The mayavadi philosophy that one can become one with supreme, that supreme God is formless, like that