Are Nirvisheshavada and Mayavada two names of the same philosophy?

Podcast:

The question is, are Rishikeshavada and Mayavada two names of the same philosophy? Answer, broadly speaking, yes. 

Technically, there are different emphases. Mayavada, the term is used by Bhaskara for the first time in his critique of Shankara s teachings. And the idea that all of existence is Maya and that even Brahman can come under Maya.

And in that sense, Mayavada, now of course, Padma Purana refers to that also. So, you could say that is an even earlier reference. Though, of course, the Mayavada is considered that reference to be interpolated on many occasions. 

So, when the term Mayavada is used, it refers primarily to the idea that Maya itself become the supreme reality in one sense because even the ultimate reality can be covered by Maya. So, it is a negative term used to refer to Advaitins. Now, Nirvisheshavada is also a term that is generally used to refer to Advaitavadis. 

Now, specifically, when the term Nirvisheshavada is used, the emphasis is that Vishesha means speciality or attributes, that all attributes are illusion. And anything with attributes is an illusory perception and that the ultimate reality has no Vishesha, has no specialization, no special attributes at all, nothing that can lend it to sensory perception at all. That idea is sensory perception or even mental conception for that matter.

That idea is called Nirvisheshavada. So, yes, you could say generally speaking, they are two terms which refer to the same broadly speaking monistic idea of the ultimate reality. Thank you.