13th cent. exponent of dualist philosophy; lived in the South Indian court of Vijayanagar; author of Vedantic works; founder of a sect of Vaishnavas; refuted monism of Sankaracharya. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

Madhvacharya, the exponent of the dualist theory of the relationship between the individual soul (Jivatma) and the supreme soul (Paramatma) was born to Vedavati and Madhyageha Bhatta (otherwaise known as Naddantillaya). He taught that royal way to Moksha (liberation) is developing devotion to God on the assumption that God is the Supreme Lord and the jiva is His servant. It is only liberation that unites jiva with the Lord, and nothing else. The river and the sea maintain their distant identity till such time the river finally merges in the sea of Divinity. Then, the jiva (individual soul) and Deva (God) become one. Any other effect to advocate such unity is tantamount to jugglery of words. The sect that Madhvacharya established was named as Dvaita (dualism). (Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, p. 157)

Madhvacharya believed that man can not realize his innate divinity merely with the help of Bhakti (devotion) and Jnana (wisdom). He advocated that a human being shall always remain as jiva (individual soul) and God as Paramatma (Supreme Soul) so that man can experience and sacred divine love. This theory is called ‘Dvaita’ (Dualism). The example he gave in support of his theory is that of an ant and sugar. It is a fact sugar cannot realize cannot realize its own sweetness. God is like an ant. Madhvacharya in the Dvaita theory he advocated tried to fulfill the intense yearning of a human being to attain Divinity. (Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, pp. 157-158)