Theism, Pantheism, and Panentheism:

Three Medieval Vaishnava Views of Nature and their Possible Ecological Implications

Abstract

Okita explores three major theological models in medieval Vaishnavism—theism, pantheism, and panentheism—as represented by Madhva, Śrīdhara Svāmī, and Jīva Gosvāmī, respectively. Drawing on their interpretations of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (2.9.33), the article unpacks their diverse conceptions of māyā (cosmic illusion) and its implications for human relationships with nature. Madhva emphasizes a transcendent God detached from nature, Śrīdhara leans toward an inclusive pantheism where nature is divine, and Jīva offers a panentheistic synthesis, asserting God’s immanence and transcendence. Okita proposes that these views serve as fertile ground for ecological ethics by reshaping how devotees perceive the sacredness of the environment.