Madhva, Yoga, and Inappropriate Appropriation

Abstract

The article "Madhva, Yoga, and Inappropriate Appropriation" by Deepak Sarma critiques contemporary attempts—both academic and popular—to integrate or align Madhva’s Dvaita Vedānta with yogic systems such as Pātañjala Yoga. Sarma argues that such associations often constitute epistemic misappropriation, stemming from an insufficient understanding of Madhva’s strict dualism and his rigorous insider criteria for textual authority and spiritual practice. The essay highlights how Madhva’s theological commitments preclude certain yogic notions like metaphysical unity or isolated self-realization. By foregrounding adhikāra (eligibility) and revealing the esoteric, tightly guarded nature of Mādhva teachings, Sarma underscores the incompatibility of such traditions with generalized or secularized yoga frameworks. The article serves as a caution against the flattening of doctrinal distinctiveness in the name of modern synthesis.