nal suffering.

This last doctrine, as well as the doctrine of salvation through Vayu,
the wind or spirit, has led many to suspect that Madhva was influenced
by Christian ideas, but it is more probable that he owed something to
Islam. Such influence would no doubt be distant and indirect, for a
Brahman would not come into contact with Moslim doctors, though it is
said that Madhva could speak Persian.[601] But some Moslim ideas such
as the absolute separation of God from the world and the
predestination of souls to eternal happiness and misery may have
entered Brahman minds. Still, nearly all Madhva's views (with the
possible exception of eternal punishment) have Indian analogies. The
Yoga teaches that there are innumerable souls distinct from one
another and from God and though salvation through the spirit sounds
Christian, yet the Upanishads constantly celebrate Vayu (wind) and
Prana (breath) as the pervading principle of the world and the home
of the self. "By the wind (Vayu) as thread, O Gautama, this world and
the other world and all creatures are bound together."[602] Thus the
idea that the wind is the universal mediator is old and it does not
seem that Madhva regarded Vayu as a redeemer or expiation for sin like
Christ.

The Madhvas are still an energetic and important sect. Their
headquarters are at Udipi in South Kanara and they also hold an annual
conference at Tirupati at which examinations in theology are held and
prizes given. At Udipi are eight maths and a very sacred temple,
dedicated by Madhva himself to Krishna. The head of each math is
charged in turn with the supervision of this temple during two years
and the change of office is celebrated by a great biennial festival in
January. The worship is more puritanical than in the temples of other
sects, dancing girls for instance not being allowed, but great
importance is attached to the practice of branding the body with the
emblems of Vishnu. The sect, like the Sri Vaishnavas, is divided
into two parties, the Vyasakutas who are conservative and use Sanskrit
scriptures,[603] and the Dasakutas who have more popular tendencies
and use sacred books written in Kanarese. Neither the Sri Vaishnavas
nor the Madhvas are numerous in northern India.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 564: Such as the Vishnu Purana, Vishnu Dharma, said to be
a section of the Garuda Purana and the Bhagavad-gita.]

[Footnote 565: The Hindus are well aware that the doctrine of Bhakti
spread