Bhāskara
Bhāskara (भास्कर) was an early medieval (c. 8th–9th century) Hindu philosopher associated with the Bhedābheda (difference-and-non-difference) school of Vedānta. He is sometimes identified with Bhāskara Miśra or Bhāskara Bhaṭṭa, though the exact identification and dates of his life remain uncertain.
Life and legacy
Very little is known about Bhāskara’s life. He is traditionally described as a Brahmin philosopher who developed his own interpretation of the Brahma Sūtras as a middle path between the Advaita of Śaṅkara and the dualistic schools. His commentary on the Brahma Sūtras (the Bhāskara-bhāṣya) is one of the earliest systematic critiques of Śaṅkara’s Advaita from within the Vedāntic tradition.
Philosophical contributions
Bhāskara’s Bhedābheda philosophy holds that the relationship between Brahman, souls, and the world is one of simultaneous difference and non-difference:
- Brahman is the ultimate reality, but it is not devoid of attributes
- The world and souls are real and distinct from Brahman, yet also inseparable from it
- Liberation is achieved through the combined practice of knowledge, devotion, and action
This philosophy placed him among the early Bhedābheda thinkers whose positions were later engaged with and critiqued by Vedāntins such as Rāmānuja; thinkers like Nimbārka developed their own versions of difference-and-non-difference.
Literary works
- Bhāskara-bhāṣya (Vedānta-sūtras commentary) — an extant commentary, one of the earliest Bhedābheda readings of the Brahma Sūtras
- Other works are attributed to him but are of uncertain authenticity
Influence
Bhāskara’s influence lies primarily in his role as a precursor to the later Vaishnava Vedāntic schools. His Bhedābheda philosophy provided a framework for reconciling the Advaita insight of non-dualism with the devotional emphasis of the Vaishnava traditions.
Verification notes
- The dating of Bhāskara is uncertain; c. 8th–9th century is a common scholarly estimate.
- The Bhāskara-bhāṣya survives and has been published in critical editions.
- The identification of Bhāskara with specific historical figures remains debated.
- Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).