Bhakti Rasayana Chandrika is a text on bhakti (devotion) by Madhusudana Saraswati, a staunch advocate of non-dualism. Madhusudana Saraswati, though a follower of Advaita Vedanta of Adi Shankaracharya, shows his inclinations towards bhakti rasa (sentiment of devotion to God). However, in works such as Advaita Siddhi, Siddhanta Bindu and Vedantakalpalatika he established the supremacy of monism. These different points of view have led to the question whether he drifted towards devotion from his position as a monist. There are no indications of such a drift in the details of his life available in his works. He was fascinated by the child Sri Krishna from his childhood and accepted him as the Ultimate Reality and a manifestation of the attributeless Brahman. This deep devotion for Bhagavan Sri Krishna induced him to interpret even the Shaivite hymn ‘Mahimnah Stotra’ of Pushpadanta, which is in praise of both Shiva and Krishna.
Bhaktirasayana places bhakti at a higher level than
knowledge because devotion is said to accelerate the realization of truth. There
is no difference in the concept of liberation achieve through either of these
two paths. Bhakti helps one to obtain the grace of Bhagavan which, in turn,
facilitates the gaining of knowledge of the scriptures to become one with
Brahman. With this realization, one is free from punishment for sins committed.
While everybody is able and entitled to practice devotion, only ascetics can
easily take to the path of knowledge. Even those liberated while alive are
devoted to God. Devotion is recognized not just as one of the goals of life,
but as the highest one. Thus, Madhusudana Saraswati made a synthesis of
devotion and knowledge.