Encyclopedia.com > Dictionaries, Thesauruses, Pictures, and Press Releases > The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions > January 1997

Bādarāyaṇa

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | 700+ words | Copyright

Bādarāyaṇa (‘descendant of Badara’). The ancient Indian sage, living around the 1st cent. BCE (though some suggest much later, e.g. 3rd/4th cent. CE), who propounded the basic teachings of Vedānta which are expressed in the Brahmasūtra and later developed by Śaṅkara, Rāmānuja, and their successors. Although Śaṅkara attributed the authorship of the Brahmasūtra to Bādarāyaṇa, others have attributed the work to the legendary compiler of the Mahābhārata epic, Vedavyāsa. It is unlikely that Bādarāyaṇa and Vedavyāsa are two names for the same person, but the later tendency to identify these two may be seen as a way of reconciling divergent views. The teachings, as given in the Brahmasūtra passages mentioning Bādarāyaṇa by name, can be summarized as follows: (i) the aim of human life is liberation (mokṣa); (ii) liberation is effected by the direct knowledge of Brahman; and (iii) direct knowledge of Brahman is independent of, and not subordinate to, ritual acts.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN BOWKER. "Bādarāyaṇa." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Bādarāyaṇa." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Bdaryaa.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Bādarāyaṇa." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Bdaryaa.html

Learn more about citation styles

Find thousands of answers for hundreds of subjects at Answers Encyclopedia .

All answers verified by trusted sources at Encyclopedia.com

Try Answers Encyclopedia now!

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: