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Interpreting Scripture: The Rationalist Approach
Oct 1 2007 | Views 121 |
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Madhavacharya (circa 13th century AD) has taken a somewhat rationalist view on the question of interpretation of religious scripture. According to Madhava, if there is any contradiction between what scripture (the Vedas, in Madhava's case) is saying and direct perception, then one must reinterpret the scripture so as to bring it in accordance with what perception is telling us. Further, says Madhava, direct perception gets priority over anything written in the Vedas with respect to sensual/sexual matters.
For a religious Vedantin, the above is a slightly radical stand to take in as much as Madhava seems to be placing a lot of emphasis on reason and the pramanas or valid sources of knowledge like perception and inference.
The modern Indian rationalist can take heart from Madhava's message, and in fact one can go a step further and claim that nothing is to be accepted unless it is in accordance with our reason and experience.
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