| # |
School (English) |
मत (Devanāgarī) |
Ācārya |
Key Tenets |
Jīva–Jagat–Brahman Relationship |
Mokṣa Concept |
| 1 | Advaita | अद्वैत | Śaṅkarācārya | Non-dualism (Kevala Advaita) | Only Brahman is real; world & soul are illusory | Realization of self as Brahman |
| 2 | Viśiṣṭādvaita | विशिष्टाद्वैत | Rāmānujācārya | Qualified non-dualism | Jīva & world are real parts (śarīra) of Brahman | Loving surrender to Nārāyaṇa |
| 3 | Dvaita | द्वैत | Madhvācārya | Dualism | Jīva, Jagat, Brahman are eternally distinct | Eternal service to Viṣṇu |
| 4 | Bhedābheda | भेदाभेद | Bhāskarācārya | Difference and non-difference | Jīva & world are parts of Brahman, both distinct and non-distinct | Union with Brahman while maintaining individuality |
| 5 | Acintyabhedābheda | अचिन्त्यभेदाभेद | Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa | Inconceivable oneness and difference | Jīva-Jagat-Brahman are simultaneously distinct and non-distinct | Eternal loving service to Kṛṣṇa |
| 6 | Dvaitādvaita | द्वैताद्वैत | Nimbārkācārya | Dualistic non-dualism | Like sun and its rays — both one and different | Devotion to Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa |
| 7 | Śuddhādvaita | शुद्धाद्वैत | Vallabhācārya | Pure non-dualism | World and soul are real expressions of Brahman | Participation in Kṛṣṇa’s Līlā |
| 8 | Śiva-viśiṣṭādvaita | शिव-विशिष्टाद्वैत | Śrīkaṇṭhācārya | Śiva-qualified non-dualism | Like Rāmānuja’s model, but Śiva is the Supreme | Union with Śiva |
| 9 | Viśeṣādvaita (Vīraśaiva) | विशेषाद्वैत | Śrīpati | Specific non-dualism | Śiva is real, Jīva depends on Him | Union with Śiva through initiation |
| 10 | Sāmañjasya | सामञ्जस्य | Vijñānabhikṣu | Sāṅkhya–Vedānta harmony | Jīva is reflection of Brahman as Puruṣa | Knowledge of identity with Brahman |
| 11 | Śākta-viśiṣṭādvaita | शाक्त-विशिष्टाद्वैत | Pañcānana Tarkaratna | Śakti-qualified non-dualism | Śakti is real power of Nirguṇa Śiva | Union with Śiva-Śakti |
| 12 | Śāktādvaita | शाक्ताद्वैत | Hārītāyana | Non-dualism of Consciousness and Power | Only Paraśakti is ultimately real | Liberation as oneness with Mahādevī |