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The Madhwa (or Madhva) ( Kannada and Tulu - ಮಾಧ್ವ ರು Marathi and Konkani - मध्व) are one community of Brahmins of India, whose members follow the doctrine of Dvaita or Dualism as codified by Madhwa Acharya (मध्वाचार्य).
Madhwas are Vaishnavites (Vaishnavism). While the largest number of Madhwas in India are Kannada or Tulu speaking, there is a significant population of Marathi, Konkani and Telugu speaking Madhwas also.
Madhwas live mainly in Karnataka and a significant number live in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The influx of Madhwas into Tamil Nadu is thought to have happened during and after the Maratha conquest of Thanjavur.
Madhwas are also the largest Brahmin community in Karnataka.
Dvaita stresses a strict distinction between God--the Supreme-Soul (paramaatma (परमात्मा)) and the individual souls of beings, jiivatma (जीवात्मा). Both Jiivaatma and Paramaatma are Anaadi (अनादि) (infinite, without beginning nor end ).
According to Madhvacharya, the individual souls of beings are not 'created' by God but do, nonetheless, depend on Him for their existence.
According to Dvaita philosophy, Atma and Paramatma are different. Atma is limited and Paramatma is omnipresent. Atama is part of Paramatma however not vice versa. GOD is everywhere. GOD is in you , in me but not you/me are NOT a GOD. Madhwa philosophy emphasizes on 3 different types in the universe. They are Paramatma , Jeeva and Jada. Paramatma is GOD the supreme and only one. He is Vishnu. Jeeva is beings including Guru's , human and animal any thing that has nature of life in it. Third is Jada which doesn't have life like a rock. Jada doesn't have any feelings , knowledge , life or death. Jeeva's vary in their stature based on their knowledge and bhakti towards Paramatma. Except Paramatma , VISHNU Madhwa philosophy considers everyone as Jeeva. This applies for Lakshmi wife of Vishnu, Brahma , Maheshwara , Hanuman , Rushi's to a normal animal. Concept of taratamya(differentiation) is based on Knowledge , Yogyata(capacity/kshamata/eleigibility) developed by good/bad things performed in the previous births. Know about GOD, hail his greatness as one continues to learn and appreciate more about GOD one gets into a better Jeeva. In such Jeeva's one who knows relatively most about GOD is Hanuman. Madhwa philosophy says Hari sarvottma Vayu Jeevottma. Hari (GOD) is Supreme where as Hanuman is greatest among all jeevas ahead of any other listed previously. It doesn't mean others are less or others are not prayed. It only means the one who does maximum daiva chainta is Hanuman.
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