Madhvacarya on Bhagavad-gita 12:1

Abstract

The article "Is Krsna Seen or Not? Madhvacarya on Bhagavadgita 12:1" by Robert Zydenbos critiques the prevailing Western scholarly bias toward Advaita Vedanta and highlights the interpretive strengths of Madhvacarya's Dvaita perspective. Focusing on Bhagavadgita 12:1, where Arjuna questions whether personal or impersonal worship is superior, Zydenbos contrasts Sankaracarya’s impersonal reading of avyakta (as attributeless Brahman) with Madhva’s interpretation of avyakta as prakrti, understood within a Sankhyan and theistic framework. Madhvacarya identifies prakrti with the goddess Sri and supports his view using the concepts of dual prakrtis and abhimani-devatas (presiding deities). Zydenbos argues that this reading better aligns with the Bhagavadgita’s broader narrative, particularly Krsna’s manifestation of his universal form, and calls for a reevaluation of Madhva’s role as a key interpreter of Hindu scripture.