Vijātiyabheda
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Vijātiyabheda literally means ‘differences based on different species’.
Classification of Bheda[edit]
Bheda or difference is one of the concepts discussed in the Vedāntic treatises to establish the nature of the ultimate realities. It is generally classified into three varieties:
- Sajātīyabheda - Among number of cows, one cow is different from another cow. This is an example of sajātiyabheda or difference within the same category.
- Vijātīyabheda - A cow and a horse are different from one another because they belong to different jātis or categories. This is an example of vijātīyabheda.
- Svagatabheda - Within the body of a cow, the horns, the legs, the tail and the ears are all different from one another. This is the example for svagatabheda or internal differences.
Bheda as per Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta[edit]
The Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta of Rāmānuja[1] does not accept the first two kinds of bhedas in Brahman but accepts the third. According to this, the jīvas[2] and the prakṛti[3] which is also called as cit[4] and acit[5] are the internal parts of īśvara or Brahman.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore