[3][4][5] Madhusūdana was born in a Vaishnava Brahmin family in a village named Unashia situated in the present-day Kotalipara division of Gopalganj district near Faridpur in Bangladesh.
Madhusūdana was so accomplished in Navya Nyaya (New logic) techniques that the following verse is quoted about him when he visited Nabadvipa, the center for learning in Nyaya Shastra[citation needed], नवद्वीपे समायाते मधुसूदनवाक्पतौ चकम्पे तर्कवागीशः कातरोऽभूद्गदाधरः Meaning: When Madhusudana, the master of speech, came to navadvipa, Mathuranatha tarkavagisha (who was the foremost navya naiyayika during those times) trembled (with fear) and Gadadhara (another logician of great repute) became afraid.
Madhusūdana places a greater emphasis on the path of devotion (bhakti), while Shankara emphasizes knowledge (jnana) as the primary means to liberation.
Tradition also recounts that Viṭṭhalesa, the son of Vallabha of the Suddhadvaita school, studied under Madhusūdana Sarasvatī, who thus forms a crucial link between Advaita Vedanta and many Vaishnava sects in the north.
Madhusūdana Sarasvatī draws upon the Yogavasistha detailing of seven stages of yogic practice leading to self-realization and the end of avidya (ignorance).
It begins with preparatory practices like acquiring knowledge and detachment, progresses to engaging in reflective dialogues, deep meditation, and the revelation of reality.