The Hierarchy of Deities in Madhva’s Âgbhāṣya

Abstract

The article "The Hierarchy of Deities in Madhva’s Âgbhāṣya" by Valerie Stoker explores the doctrinal significance and interpretive strategy behind Madhvācārya’s concept of devatātāratamya, or the hierarchical ordering of deities. It demonstrates how this doctrine, grounded in Madhva's realist epistemology and dualistic Vedānta, establishes a theologically rigid but textually innovative reinterpretation of the Vedas. Stoker analyzes how Madhva employs this hierarchy to legitimize Viṣṇu’s supremacy, challenge Śaṅkara’s non-dualism, and redefine the canon by integrating post-Vedic Vaiṣṇava traditions into Vedic exegesis.