DVAITA
dvaita: translation
Dvaita (from dvi, two) is usually translated as “dualist.” In theological terms it refers to the notion that God is completely separate and differ-ent from the human soul.
Abrahamic traditions in their normative form—
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—would be seen as dvaita or dualistic because they believe that the human soul is a separate entity and reality from God. Normative Hinduism tends toward forms of ADVAITA, non-dualism, the opposite of dvaita. But there are some Indian systems that are truly dvaita in nature. One form of VEDANTA, championed by MADHVA, a 12th-century sage, is authentically dvaita. Also, the South Indian tradition of Shaiva Siddhanta can be classified as dvaita.
Further reading: S. N. Dasgupta, History of Indian Philosophy, 5 vols. (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1975); Ananta Sharan Tiwari, Vedic Myth, Ritual, and Philoso-phy: A Study of Dvaita Interpretation of the Veda by Mad-hva (Delhi: Pratibha Prakashan, 2001).