Preface

Srimad Ānandathērtha was a 12th century saint who re-established the Vēdānta doctrine of 'tatvavāda', the doctrine based on realism and theism. His 'tatvavāda' philosophy is mostly famous as 'Dvaita', the Dualistic Vēdānta. He is usually referred to as Madhvāchārya, however his signature in many of his writings refers to him as "Srimad Ānandathērtha Bhagavad Pādāchārya".

The Dvādaśa-stotra of Śrī Madhvācārya is a foundational devotional composition of the Tatvavāda (Dvaita Vedānta) tradition, comprising twelve hymns in praise of Lord Viṣṇu. It is not only a lyrical outpouring of devotion, but also functions as a compact theological statement, presenting Madhva’s core philosophical convictions in a poetic and accessible form. Throughout the hymns, Lord Viṣṇu is affirmed as the supreme, independent reality (svatantra-tattva), endowed with infinite auspicious qualities and entirely distinct from all dependent entities—souls and matter—whose existence and activity are governed by Him. The stotra repeatedly emphasizes the eternal difference (bheda) between God and the individual self, rejecting any notion of ultimate merger, while simultaneously upholding bhakti rooted in right knowledge (tattva-jñāna) as the sole means to liberation. Madhva presents Lord Viṣṇu not merely as an object of reverence but as the exclusive giver of grace and mokṣa, accessible to the devotee at a personal level, who approaches Him with humility, surrender, and scripturally grounded understanding. The language of the Dvādaśa-stotra is concise yet intense, combining logical precision with emotional depth, and reflecting Madhva’s unique ability to fuse rigorous metaphysics with heartfelt devotion.

Liturgically, the work occupies a central place in the Madhva sampradāya, especially within the Uḍupi Kṛṣṇa tradition, where it is regularly recited in daily worship and festival contexts. As a whole, the Dvādaśa-stotra exemplifies Madhvācārya’s vision of philosophy as lived devotion: a hymnody in which doctrine is not abstract speculation but an act of praise, and where devotion itself becomes the clearest expression of truth.

- Madhukrishna Sudhindra