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Ananda-Taratamya Vadartha

Ananda Taratamya Vadartha is a work of the Dvaita School of philosophy. It is a Sanskrit work in prose by Vijayendra Tirtha (1514-95 CE) and deals with the gradation among the released beings in the experience of bliss. It insists upon the svarupataratamya (intrinsic gradation) among them, based on varying degrees of knowledge, power and bliss. The gradation is manifest all the more clearly in moksha (released state) because the selves realize their true status in this state. Madhvacharya regards release as the complete unfolding of one’s selfhood in its pristine purity and bliss.

This cardinal and unique doctrine of the system emphasizes also the hierarchical gradation in the nature, range, quality and intensity of the bliss experienced by the released souls. To Madhvacharya, the qualitative difference in the enjoyment of the bliss is a natural corollary to the thesis of intrinsic difference of the souls.

According to the Dvaita School, attainment of release is attained. To earn it, besides vairagya (freedom from worldly attachment), bhakti (devotion), sravana (hearing recitals of holy texts), manana (reflection), dhyana (meditation) and darshana (direct realization) are essential. It is not possible for all selves to put forth the same quality or quantity of effort of the same intensity or duration. As a consequence, there is a gradation in the joy which one gets on release.

Vijayendra Tirtha has no hesitation in asserting that it would be unwise to claim total equality and identity with Brahman in the matter of enjoying the ineffable bliss without any qualitative difference, since the cosmic activities are but the expression of the supreme bliss of Brahman.