Basics of Dwaita philosophy

The term Dwaita in Sanskrit means Duality . The Dwaita philisophy is one of the most sophisticated school of thought propounded  by Sri Madhwacharya.Though this  philosophy was prevelant before, it was Sri Madhwacharya who systematically established by writing up various commentories and authoring 37 books, which are known as Sarvamoola Granthas

Before we understand Dwaita, it is necessary that we know what duality does it refers to.

Sanatan Dharma,Hinduism as we call it now, is a very open religion. This dharma itself  grants every individual the right to question the beliefs and understand it. It believes that, without questioning(jignasa), one cannot gain knowledge. True to this belief, this questioning led to various schools of thoughts.

The 4 Vedas form the basis of the religion. Everything else revolves around these Vedas. The Vedas exists from time immemorial. There is no one single author. The Vedas are also called Apaurusheya - Not a creation of man.

The Upanishads are core part of Vedas - The antaranga or the heart of Vedas which deals with extensive explanations on the Veda mantras, on understanding who the Brahman(God) is, what is His nature,  how can one feel Him. The Upanishads are in the form of questions and answers. This interpretation of Upanishads has basically lead to different philosophies. Among all interpretations, the Advaita, Vishishta Advaita and the Dwaita are 3 major philosophies

All the three philosophies deal with who the Brahman is, His relation with the Atman , the Moskha-Liberation - the ultimate aim of every atman

The common understanding  among all the three philosophies is GOD or the Brahman is independent,is available everywhere ,in every being-living or non living

The difference arises with identifying who that Brahman is, how a atman can realise that Brahman.

Adwaitha as propounded by Sri  Adi Shankaracharya , says that Brahman is formless, this world which his creation is an illusion-Maya. The Brahman resides in every body. The day the atman residing in a body realises who that atman is, it becomes the Brahman itself. And hence every Atman can become Brahman, since there is no difference between Atman and Brahman-which is exactly the meaning of Adwaitha-Non Duality. This can be achieved by Bhakti-devotion towards Brahman, by understanding the Vedas, the Upnaishads, Puranas and performing tapas-Meditation under the guidance of an able Guru

With this brief understanding of Adwaitha, lets us know what is  Dwaitha

The basic principles of Dwaitha philosophy are:

1. Lord Sri Hari is the Supreme. He is the Parabrahma
2. All other beings including Devas, Devis are subordinate to him
3. There is difference between Atman(Jeeva) and Paramatma(Supreme God). The Atman can never become God nor can ever become like God.Hence Atma and Paramatma are two different entities and the difference will always exist. This is Duality-Dwaitha
4. This universe which is the creation of God is real and not illusion. One who creates imaginary or unreal things can never be God
5. The Parabrahman has infinite forms which is impossible to be defined by Jeeva or atman as against the formless concept of Brahman in Adwaitha 
6. The Parabrahman is always independent and all jeevas are dependent on him
7. one can be free from birth and death cycle only  through knowledge and absolute devotion towards Sri Hari 
8. God resides in every being. The atman which resides in the body is a reflection or mirror image of God residing in the body.  Hence knowing self gives the joy of knowing God. This is called Swaroopa Sukha. However this can never make the Atman neither God nor God like 
9. Only Sri Hari can provide Moksha and even in Moksha the atman can never become God
10. Sri Hari resides in all the demigods .There is a five fold difference and systematic hierarchy in everything that is present in this universe which is as below :

• There is a difference from one living being to the other
• There is a difference between living and non living things
• There is a difference between different non living thing
• There is a difference between a living being and God
• There is a difference between non living and God

This difference from one entity to the other is the law of nature. No entity can become another entity.Hence an atma can never become Paramatma