Three Giants of Hindu Philosophy: A Simple Comparison

Have you ever wondered about the different paths to understanding God and yourself in Hindu philosophy? Three brilliant thinkers shaped these conversations over five centuries, and their ideas still influence millions today. Let’s explore who they were and what made each one unique.

Who Were They?

Adi Shankaracharya lived from 788 to 820 CE in Kerala. He was the first of our three philosophers, traveling across India debating scholars and establishing monasteries.

Ramanuja came much later, living from 1017 to 1137 CE in Tamil Nadu. He focused on reforming temple worship and building a devotional theology.

Madhvacharya was born around 1238 to 1317 CE in Karnataka. He combined rigorous scholarship with passionate devotional singing.

These three lived across five hundred years, each building on and challenging the ideas that came before.

The Big Question They All Asked

All three asked the same fundamental question: “What am I, and how do I relate to God?” But they gave completely different answers.

Shankaracharya’s Answer: You ARE God

Imagine being a king who got amnesia and thinks he’s a beggar. When you remember who you really are, you realize you were never separate from royalty - you just forgot.

That’s Shankaracharya’s teaching. You ARE God, you just forgot. It’s like an actor who forgot they’re acting and thinks the movie is real. When you “wake up,” you realize there was never anyone separate from God - just God playing all...