Correct option is C
The correct answer is (c) Both 1 and 2.
Shankara was the founder of Advaita Vedanta: This statement is correct. Adi Shankaracharya was the prominent philosopher and theologian who founded the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy. Advaita Vedanta emphasizes the concept of non-duality (Advaita), stating that the Atman (individual soul) and Brahman (ultimate reality) are one and the same, and that the perception of duality (separation) is due to ignorance (Maya).
The philosophy of Dvaita was elaborated by Madhva: This statement is also correct. Madhvacharya, a 13th-century philosopher, was the proponent of the Dvaita Vedanta or Dualistic school of philosophy. According to Dvaita, the individual soul (Jiva) and the supreme being (Vishnu/Brahman) are eternally distinct entities, emphasizing a dualistic interpretation of reality. This philosophy stands in contrast to Shankara's non-dualism.
Information Booster:
● Advaita Vedanta, established by Shankara, is one of the oldest and most influential schools of Indian philosophy, focusing on the unity of the soul and the absolute (Brahman).
● Shankara’s teachings include the famous analogy of "Tat Tvam Asi" (You are That), signifying the oneness of individual and universal consciousness.
● Dvaita Vedanta, proposed by Madhva, insists on the eternal distinction between the individual soul and God, and highlights devotion (Bhakti) as the path to liberation.
● The Vedanta philosophy has multiple schools, including Advaita (non-dualism), Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) by Ramanuja, and Dvaita (dualism) by Madhva.
● These philosophical interpretations have significantly influenced Indian spirituality, literature, and devotional movements throughout history.