Abstract
The Vedānta schools, known as darśanas, present diverse philosophical views on the nature and form of reality. Among these, the Akṣara-Puruṣottama Darśana emerges as a novel school of thought. This school offers a unique perspective on metaphysics, the nature of realization, and the means for attaining it. Like other Vedānta schools, its teachings are affirmed by the revelations of the authoritative texts: the Upaniṣads, the Brahmasūtra, and the Bhagavad Gītā. These foundational texts are collectively known as the Prasthānatrayī, or the three primary sources.
The Akṣara-Puruṣottama Darśana recognizes Akṣarabrahman, or Akṣara, as eternally distinct from the Supreme Being, who is identified as Parabrahman, Paramātman, and Puruṣottama. Both Akṣarabrahman and Parabrahman are central to understanding the Darśana’s fundamental principles and are referred to in its name by the terms ‘Akṣara’ and ‘Puruṣottama.’ This paper explores the crucial relationship between Akṣara and Puruṣottama through an exegetical analysis of the Prasthānatrayī. The primary focus of this work is to elucidate this relationship as it is presented in the darśana’s vādagrantha, the Svāminārāyaṇa-Siddhānta-Sudhā.
The paper begins with a concise introduction to the Akṣara-Puruṣottama Darśana and its metaphysical framework. It proceeds to explore the nature of Akṣara and Puruṣottama and then delves into an analysis of the relationship between these entities. This examination highlights their significance in the darśana’s teachings on the means to attain liberation.