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History of Classical Sanskrit Literature c19: Chapter IX. Mahakavya (contd.)

History of Classical Sanskrit Literature c19

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English

Contents

Chapter IX. Mahakavya (contd.)

Section 1

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**205. Alwars.** The traditions of Śrī Vaiṣṇavas mention 12 Saints or Alwars.¹ Garuḍavāhanapaṇḍita in his Divyasūricarita,² and Anantācārya in his Prapannāmṛta,³ describe their story. The traditional dates,⁴ ascribed to many of these Ālwars are not accepted by "modern" scholars, probably because according to them tradition cannot be accepted as history. It is not known however why the innocent Vaiṣṇavas should forge chronology, for their reverence to these sages is not due to the time that has gone by, but to the intrinsic merit of their teachings. Speculation cannot displace tradition.

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¹ See *Vaishnavite Reformers of India* by T. Rajagopalacarya; *Early history of Vaisnavism in South India* by S. Krishnasami Ayyangar, *Life of the Alwārs* by A. Govindacarya. V. Rangachariar, *Successors of Ramanuja, JBRAS*, XXIV. 102 and Guruparamparas of the different Sects.

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² Printed Sahṛdaya, Madras, and Mysore. Garuḍavāhana or Śrīnivāsa was also known as Kavivaidyapurandara [DC, XXI. 8125, TC, IV. 5093, 5943].

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³ This is a long poem in 125 cantos dealing with the lives of Sri Vaiṣṇava Ālwars of India. Printed Bombay and Madras. [SVH, 34, 71, 202, 251.].

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⁴ Bhaktāvaibhavaprakāśikā of Veṅkaṭeśa, son of Pratīvādibhayankara, gives the date, month, year, constellation of the birth of the several Alwārs (TC, II. 2010). For Veṅkaṭeśa's many other works, see TC, II. 2025-2052, among which several are stoṭras.

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Of these Ālwars, some of whom were born in Dvāpara,⁵ some in Kali,⁶ Kulaśekhara was the first, born in Kali year 27, Parābhava, 3075 B.C. He was son of Dṛdhavrata.¹ His famous lyric Mukunda-māla displays harmony and devotion.²

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⁵ (i) Mahat (Peyalwar) in Dvāpara, 860900 (862901?), (Siddhārthi), Āśvayuja, Śukla 10th, Guru, Śatabhiṣt, at Mayurapuri (Mylapore) (ii) Bhuṭa (Pudaṭṭalwar) in Dvāpara, 860900 (862901?), (Siddhārthi), Āśvayuja, Śukla, 9th, Budha at Mallāpuri (Mahābalipuram) (iii) Kāsāra (Poigai) in Dvāpara 860900 (862901?), (Siddhārthi), Āśvayuja, Śukla, 8th, Guru, Sravaṇa, at Kāñcī, (iv) Mathurakavi in Dvāpara 863879 (883878?) (Iśvara), Caitra, Śukla, 14th, Śukra, Citrā, at Tirukkeloor (Tinnevelly Dt.) (v) Bhaktiṣāra (Tirumalisai) in Dvāpara, 894901, (Siddharthi), Puśya, Kahula, 1st) Adi, Makbā, Tulālagna, at Tirumalisai.

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⁶ (i) Periyalwar (Visṇucitta) was born in Kali 47, Krodhana, Jyeṣṭha, Śukla, 13th Svāti, at Dhanipuri (Srivilliputtur), (ii) Āṇḍāl born in Kali 98, Nala, Āṣāḍha, Śukla, 14th, Maṅgala, Pubbhā, (iii) Vipranārāyaṇa (Toṇḍaradippadi Alwar) in Kali 107, Prabhava, Margasīra, Jyeṣṭha, at Mandangudi (iv) (Tiruppāṇi Alwar in Kali 163 (3432?) (Bahula 2nd,) (Durmati) Kartika, Sukla, 15th (Krittika?) Budha, (Orayur) Rohiṇī? at Niculāpuri (v) Parakāla (Tirumaṅgai Alwar) in Kali 217 (399?), (Nala), Kārttika, 15th, Guru, Kṛttikā at Parirambhapuri.

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¹ Kulaśekhara was according to the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition born at Kolipattanam in Keralas, in Kali, 27, (Parābhava) Māgha, Sukla, 12th, Guru, Punarvasu. But Ganapathi Sastri in his preface of *Tapatīsaṃvaraṇa* (TSS), says that that Kulaśekharalwar mentioned in Tamil Prabandhas is said to have lived in Kali 1680 (1422 B.C ). The source of information is not given.

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² See Chapter on Laghukāvya, *post*.

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Among Alwars, Nammālwar or Śathagopa of Kurukapuri,³ also known as Parāśara or Vakulābharaṇa was the greatest. He was the son of Kari and Uḍayamangai and was born at Tirukkuruhur in the 43rd year Kali of 3059 B.C.⁴ His original name was Maran. After a period of contemplation while yet a child, he became inspired and the result of it was the singing of the Tamil Prabandham Nālāyiram. This has been rendered into Sanskrit Kurukeśagāthānukaraṇa by Rāmānuja, son of Govinda of Kāśyapagotra,⁵ and in Tātparyaratnāvali by Vedāntadeśika.⁶

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³ Śathagopasahasra is a thousand verses in praise of Śathagopa by Venkaṭārya. (*TC*, IV. 4612, 4660) Śathagopaguṇālaṅkaraparicaryā is a treatise on rhetoric with illustrations in praise of Śathagopa (*TC*, II. 2310, IV. 5232) probably by a member of the Bhatta's family of Srirangam in 17th century A.D. For other eulogies, see *TC*, III. 2035, IV. 5292, 5221, 5222, 4664, *DC*, XVIII. 4842. For a short account, see *Ind. Rev.* (1918), 646.

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⁴ He was born in Pramadi, Vāiśākha sukla 16th, Śukra, Vaiśakha (*TC*, XVIII. 6881.

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⁵ *TC*, III. 3492.

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⁶ *TC*, III. 4152.

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Among the Ācāryas was Ālavandar (Yāmunācārya) who occupied the apostolic seat at Śrīraṅgam. He was the son of Īśvarabhaṭṭa and Ranganāyakī,⁷ and grandson of Nāthamuni.⁸ He was a great devotee and his lyrics Catuśślokī, Stotraratna,⁹ and Śrīstuti,¹⁰ are famous for their piety and melody. He lived between 915-1040 A. D.

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⁷ He was born in Kali 4017 Dhātu Āṣāḍha Śukla 15th, Budha Uttarāṣāḍha. See *Ind. Rev.* IX. 585.

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⁸ According to Prapannāmṛta, Nāthamuni was born in Śobakṛt, Kali 3684, Āni, Wednesday, Kṛṣṇa 13th, and he is said to have lived 330 (340?) years. See *Ind. Rev.* IX. 275.

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⁹ See *TC*, II. 2600.

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¹⁰ Printed, Madras. There is commentary by Vedāntadeśika (*DC*, XVIII. 7204) and a summary of this commentary Rāmānujasudhī (*Ibid.* 7206). See also *TC*, III. 2938.

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**206. Rāmānuja** was Āḻavandār’s son’s daughter’s son. He was born in Kali 4119 (1017 A.D.) at Śrīperumbudūr.¹ His father was Āsūri Keśava Bhattar of Hārītagotra. Rāmānuja was first named Lakṣmaṇa and to this day he is called Lakṣmaṇamuni and an incarnation of Ādiśeṣa. He studied under Yādavaprakāśa at Kāñcī, but became estranged from him on account of his jealousy. After escaping an attempt at assassination, he lived at Kāñcī, until he was called to Śrīraṅgam to take the place of Āḻavandār. He reached Śrīraṅgam barely to see the remains of Āḻavandār about to be consigned to the funeral pile.² At Madhurāntakam, he was initiated into Vedānta by Perianambi and soon he became an ascetic.

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¹ The formula is धीर्लब्धा, Śaka 939 (Kali 4118) Piṅgala, Caitra, Śukla 7th, Guru, Ārdrā, Karkaṭa (TC, XVIII, 6882).

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² "Ramanuja was taken close to the body to take a first and final look at the great master, when he saw three out of the five fingers of the right hand folded. Struck with this, he enquired whether the defect was noticed in life and the answer came that the defect was not physical and was not noticed in life. On further enquiry Ramanuja was told that the master had three of his cherished objects unfulfilled, namely, an easily read and understood commentary upon the Brahmasutra; the giving of the names of Parasara and Sathagopa to suitable persons that would make these names live among the people. Ramanuja promised to see these fulfilled and the fingers straightened." *Sri Ramanujacharya* by S. Krishnaswami Iyengar, page 8.

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He wrote his commentary on Vyāsasūtras and a Bhāṣya on the Gītā and three works on Vedānta. In his tour in Kāṣmīr, his commentary on the sūtras was approved by Sarasvatī and at her bidding it was called Śrī Bhāṣya. He installed the Viṣṇu deity at Melkote, in 1099 A.D.,³ settled disputes at Tirupati and arranged for the performance of festivals in several Viṣṇu shrines. He passed away after a life of 128 years in Durmati 1137 A.D.⁴

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³ On this subject, see Jīrṇoddhārakrama, a work preserved in the Yatirāja Mutt at Melkote, summarised by N. T. Narasimha Ayyangar, *JRAS*, (1915) 147.

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⁴ His active life embraced the reigns of the Cola Rājas, Kulottuṅga I (1070-1118 A.D.), Vikrama (1118-1133 A.D.) and Kulottuṅga II. (1135-1146 A.D.).

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Apart from his works on philosophy,⁵ his literary merits are indicated in his GADYATRAYA viz. Vaikuṇṭhagadya, Raghuvīragadya, Śaraṇāgatigadya.⁶

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⁵ See *CC*, I. 521, II. 522.

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⁶ Ed, Madras, Bombay.

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On the life of Rāmānuja,¹ there are Rāmānujasucaritaculaka by Rāmānujadāsa,² Yatīndracampū³ by Vakulābharaṇa, son of Śathagōpa of Ātreyagotra and desciple of Varada of Vātsya family, Rāmānujadivyacarita,⁴ Rāmānujacarita,⁵ Rāmānujavijaya by Annayācārya,⁶ Rāmānujīya,⁷ Śrībhāṣyakāracarita by Kauśika Veṅkaṭeśa,⁸ Śrīśailakulavaibhava by Nṛsiṁhasūri.⁹

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¹ See also Life of Sri Rāmānuja by C. R. Srinivasa Iyengar ; Rāmānuja Grantha (Opp, II. 4882); Rāmānujavaṁśāvalī (*CC*, I. 522). For Stotras in his praise, see *TC*, I. 14, 595, 768; *DC*, XVIII, 6855, 6706, 6849, 6831, 6841, 6862, 6995, 6842, 6785, 6847.

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² *TC*, III. 3581.

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³ 3, *TC*, IV. 5210.

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⁴ Opp. II. 3528.

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⁵ *TC*, III. 3051.

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⁶ *Rice*, 240.

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⁷ Opp. II, 1801, 7722.

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⁸ *Mys. OML*, 260.

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⁹ *Ibid.*, 260.

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His desciple Āndhrapūrṇa (Vaduḥanambi) wrote Yatīrājavaibhava.

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**207. Kūrattāḻvār** or **Śrīvatsāṅkamiśra**, son of Rāma Somayāji, was born at Kūram near Kāñcī in Kali 4141 (1039 A.D.).¹⁰ He was a pupil of Rāmānuja. He belonged to a wealthy family but abondoned his riches and migrated to Śrīraṅgam to join Rāmānuja. There he became a mendicant and lived by alms. His memory was supernatural and it is said that when Rāmānuja was not permitted in Kashmir to make a copy of Bodhāyana's Vṛtti on Brahmasūtra, Kureśa could by a single reading of it repeat the work. Thus he helped Rāmānuja in his composition of Śrībhāṣya of which he was his ananuensis. When King Kuloṭṭuṅgacola I summoned Rāmānuja to his presence to accept the Śaiva faith, Kūreśa personated Rāmānuja and when he attempted to argue the superiority of Vaiṣṇava faith the cruel king ordered his eyes to be put out. Kūreśa is the founder of the family of the Bhattars of Śrīraṅgam.¹¹

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¹⁰ *DC*, XVIII, 6882. He was born in Saumya, Makara, Kṛṣṇa 5th, Budha Hasta.

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¹¹ For a short account of his life, see *Sah.* XVII. 65, 89, 113, 130.

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He was a great poet and his verse combines in it the fluency of lay fancies and the sanctity of theological allusions. His Vaikuṇṭhastava describes the glory of Viṣṇu in Vaikuṇṭha, his Atimānuṣastava,¹² the great deeds of Viṣṇu in his incarnations, his Sundarabāhustava, the grace and purposes of idolic forms of Viṣṇu, his Varadarājaṣṭava the particular merit of Varadarāja of Kancī and Śrīstava, the qualities of Lakṣmī. These together go under the name of Pancastavī.¹ Kūreśavijaya, probably by Kūranārāyaṇa,² relates his history.³

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¹² There is a commentary by Rāmānuja (*DC*, XVIII, 6919).

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¹ Ed. Madras, with the commentary of Śrīṅivāsa, son of Rāmānuja of Ātreya Gotra.

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² Kūranārāyaṇa was the author of Sudarśanaśataka (Kāvyamāla, VIII).

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³ *DC*, XVIII, 6958; *Opp.* 5516, 7909, II. 1052, 1280.

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Śrīvatsānka's son was Parāśāra Bhatta, born in Śaka 983 (1061 A.D.).⁴ He wrote Viṣṇusahasranāma-Bhāṣya and Śrīraṅgarājastava,⁵ Śrīguṇaratnakośa,⁶ Kṣamāṣoḍaśī,⁷ Taniśloki and Aṣṭaśloki.⁸ Doḍḍayācārya⁹ relates his history in his Pārāśaryavijaya.¹⁰

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⁴ He was born in Subhakt, Vaiśākha, Śukla, 15, Anurādhā and died in the year Jaya, Kārtika.

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⁵ Printed, Madras. There are commentaries, one anonymous and another by Venkaṭācārya, *DC*, XVIII., 7118, 7119.

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⁶ Printed, Madras. For commentary by Rāmānujācārya, see *DC*, XVIII. 6884, by Veerārāghava (*Ibid.*, 6866), by Venkaṭanivāsa (*Ibid.*, 6889), and by Jagannātha (*TC*, II, 1440).

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⁷ Printed, Madras. *TC*, IV, 4675.

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⁸ Printed, Madras.

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⁹ Doḍḍayācārya of Vādhūlagotra of Kaṇḍāla family lived at Sholinghur. He lived in the days of King Rāma Rāya of Vijayanagar. See para 124 supra. Among his other works are Caṇḍamāruta, Vedāntavidyāvijaya and Sadavidyāvijaya. He wrote Vedāntadeśikavaibhavaprakāśikā (*DC*, XIX, 7677). See *SVH*, 202 and *CC*, I, 263.

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¹⁰ *Rice*, 154.

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208. Vedantadesika

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or Venkatanātha was the high priest of the Vadagalai Śrīvaiṣṇava sect. His life and works have been noticed in a previous Chapter.¹¹

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¹¹ See para 120 *supra*.

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209. Saumyajāmatṛmuni

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(or Manavāla Mahāmuni)¹² was the high priest of the Tengalai Śrī Vaiṣṇava sect. He was born at Kunṭīnagara and was a desciple of Lokācārya.¹³ He lived in 1370-1444 A.D.¹⁴

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¹² He was also called Śrīśaileśa (see Śrīśaileśāṣṭaka by Devarāja (*TC*, III, 4146). For other stotras in his praise, see *DC*, XVIII, 7301-10 and *TC*, IV, 5293, 5219, 5226. See also Yatīndrapravaṇacampū by Vakulābharaṇa (*Mys. OML. Sup.* 12).

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¹³ He is known as Pillai Lokācārya. He lived for 28 years in 1265-1378 A.D. He composed Śrīvacanabhūṣaṇa in Tamil of which there is a summary of Venkateśa (*TC*, II. 2019). He died at Jyotiṣkudi. He was a friend of Vedāntadeśika. (See extract from Prapannāmṛta, *SVH*, 34).

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¹⁴ He was born on 24-1-1370 A.D. in Śaka 1292, Sādhāraṇa, Arpisi, 26, Guru, Śukla, Caturdaśi, Mūla, 1.

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He composed Yatirājavimśati,¹ in praise of Rāmānuja and Kastūritilakastava.² In Sucaritacaṣaka, Raghavārya, son of Nṛsiṃha, describes the incidents of his life. Rāghava lived at Bhūsara or Tirumalisai near Chingleput.³ His daughter's son Abhirāmavara or Varavaramuni or Saumyavara, son of Dīptasāyana,⁴ wrote Nakṣatramālā, a hymn in praise of Śaṭhagopa.⁵

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¹ Printed, Madras. There is commentary on it (*TC*, II. 2400).

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² *TC*, IV. 4729; *DC*, XVIII. 6939, with commentary.

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³ *TC*, III. 4127.

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⁴ See *TC*, II. 2019 for this relationship.

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⁵ *TC*, II, 2268, with commentary by Jagannāṭha.

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210.

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In the heirarchy of **Ahobalam Mutt** of which ADI VAN SATHAGOPA Swāmi was the first pontiff, there were many poets of a high order.⁶ ADI VAN SATHAGOPA swami of Tirunārāyaṇapuram lived in 1379-1458 A.D. (Tirumalai Nambākam) NARAYANA was his successor (1458-1472). He is known to have written 60 works on various topics and in the field of poetry his Nārāyaṇacarita and commentary on Ālavandarstotra are known. (Vangipuram) PARANKUSA was 6th (1497-1511) and wrote Narasiṃhastava. SATHAGOPA was 7th (1512-1522) and wrote the play Vāsantikāpariṇaya.⁷ (Kalyāṇapuram Cakravarti) PARANKUSA RAMANUJA was 24th (1762-1774) and wrote Śrīprapatti, Narasiṃhamaṅgalāśāsana etc. (Elanagar Gaḍādhara puram) VIRARAGHAVA was 27th (1827-1830) and wrote Kṛpāsāgarastava, Kṣīranadīstava, Vihageśvarastava, Devarājastava, Lakṣmīnarasiṃhastava and Vaikuṇṭhavijayacampū in answer to Nīlakaṇṭhavijaya. (Attipattu Mādabhūśi) SATHAGOPA RAMANUJA was 34th (1878-1881) and wrote Kavihṛdayaranjinī and Vedagirivarṇana (Turagagati). (Pillaipakam Ilayavalli) VIRARAGHAVA (1897-1898) was 37th and wrote Śārīrakasuprabhāta and Śrīgosthīnāthastava.

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⁶ See Guruparamparā of that Mutt published in Tamil at Madras. See the Ahobalam inscription of Śrīraṅgarāja, dated Saka 1506 (1584-5 A.D.) extracted in *SVH*, 233.

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⁷ See Chapter on Sanskrit Drama, post. *DC*, XXI. 8500.

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211.

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Among the pontiffs of the **Parakala Mutt** of Mysore, Srinivasa was the 29th. He lived in 1802-1861 A.D. and wrote Alaṅkārasaṅgraha.⁸

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⁸ See Guruparamparā of that Mutt, published in Mysore.

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Śrī KRSNA Brahmatantra Parakālaswāmi was the 31st Head of the Parakāla Mutt at Mysore. His original name was Kṛṣṇamācārya. He was the son of Tātācārya and Kṛṣṇāmbā of the village of Amidella on the Pennar. He was born in 1839 and passed away about 1916 A.D. He was for some time in the courts of Vanaparti, Ātmakūr and Ānagondi. He wrote 67 works on various branches of learning. Among campūs are Rangarājavilāsa, Kārṭikoṭsavāḍīpikā and Śrīnivāsavilāsa. Among poems are Capetāhaṭiṣṭuṭi, Uṭṭararangamāhāṭmya, Rameśvaravijaya, Nṛsiṃhavilāsa and Madangopālamāhātṃya.¹ His Alankāramaṇihāra is an elaborate work on rhetoric with illustrations in praise of the deity Śrīnivāsa of Tirupati.²

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¹ For full account, see Guruparampara (Mysore).

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² Ed. Mys. series.

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**212. Lakṣmīkumāra Tātācārya** of Śaṭhamarṣaṇagoṭra is a famous personage in South Indian Vaiṣṇava history. He was born at Kumbakonam in 1571 A.D. He was adopted by Venkaṭācārya, better known as Pancamaṭabhanjana³ Tāṭadeśika of Conjeevaram. He was preceptor and minister of Emperors Śrīranga and Venkatapati of Vijianagar and was practically the ruler of the empire in the later half of the 16th century. He was accorded the first honours in all the shrines of South India and was celebrated for his acts of charity. His titular name Koṭikanyādāna indicates the marriages of several maidens performed at his instance. He passed away in 1631 A.D. His HANUMADVIMSATI is engraved on the walls in Devarājswāmi temple at Conjeeveram of which his descendants are still the trustees.

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³ See para 124 supra. *SVH*, 252, where an extract from Prapannāmṛta is given.

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The greatness of his line is described by Rāmānujadāsa in Ṭāṭāryavaibhavaprakāśa.⁴ His life is described by his descendant Ranganātha in the poem Lakṣmīkumārodaya.⁵

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⁴ *DC*, XIX. 7242.

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⁵ Printed, Kumbakonam.

Section 2

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**213. Śrī Madhva Ācārya** or Ānandatīrtha,⁶ was born in the village of Belle near Udipi in an orthodox brahmin family in the year Yuva, 4300 Kali or 1198 A.D.⁷ on the last day of Navarāṭri. That day is now known as Madhvanavami. His mother was Vedavallī. His original name was Vāsudeva. His early life displayed miracles of divine powers. By twenty five,¹ he became learned in all the sciences and Vedas. His knowledge was so profound that he was called Pūrṇaprajña. At that age he renounced his family and became an ascetic on the initiation of Acyuṭaprakāśa under the name of Ānandaṭīrtha. In his tours through-out India he engaged himself in philosophical controversies and became the founder of the Advaita school of philosophy. He expounded his Dvaita doctrine in his Bhāṣyas on Vyāsa Sūṭras, the Upaniṣads, and the Gīta. He spent his last years at the Saridantaram, the duab between the rivers Neṭrāvaṭi and Kumāradhāra in S. Canara and he lived for 79 years, 6 months and 20 days and disappeared in Pingala, 1278 A.D.²

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⁶ He is also known as Ananṭānandagiri, Ānandagiri, Ānandajnāna, Ānanajnānagiri, Jnānānda, Jnānānandagiri. (*CC*. I. 46), See Grierson, *ERE*, VII. 232; Bhandarkar, *VS*, 57 and *BR*, (1882-3), 207.

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⁷ C.M. Padmanabhacarya in his *Life of Śri Madhva* discusses the question and fixes the year 1223 A.D. as the date of birth or of taking the order. H. Krishna Sastri agrees with him. But the inscription at Srikurma dated Saka 1203 indicates the earlier date. (*EI*, III. 260-8). See Introduction to Translation of *Geetābhāṣya* by S. Subbarao and *A Sketch of the History of Madhva Acaryas* by G. Venkobarap (*IA*, XLIII, 233).

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¹ Some say it was thirteen.

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² According to the other view this was on 11th January 1318 A D. See B. Venkobarao, *Life of Sri Vyāsarāja*, XXVIII. Bangalore.

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Of his 37 works,³ many on philosophy, his mastery of the language is displayed in his poem YAMAKABHARATA, where he narrates the story of Mahābhāraṭa in Yamaka verse.⁴ Among his sṭoṭras are Āryāṣṭoṭra, Guruṣṭoṭra, Kṛṣṇastuti and Ḍvāḍaśasṭoṭra.⁵ Bhāgavat taṭparyanirṇaya⁶ and Bhāraṭāṭ ṭparyanirṇaya⁷ are learned critiques on Śrī Bhāgavaṭa and Mahābhāraṭa. Kṛṣṇakarṇāmṛtamahārṇava,⁸ Śaṅkaravijaya and Śaṅ-karācāryavaṭārakathā are also attributed to him.⁹

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³ Granthamālikāsṭoṭra (*TC*, II. 2008) gives the list.

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⁴ Printed Bombay and Madras. There are commentaries on it anonymous (*DC.*, XX. 7955) which refers to a prior commentary in verse (*TC*, II, 1143).

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⁵ Printed, Madras, Bombay.

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⁶ Printed, Madras and Bombay with Janārdanabhatta's commentary. See *TC*, II. 1161. For a short summary of it, see *TC*, II. 1995.

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⁷ See page 43 *supra*. For commentaries, see *TC*, II. 1143; by Viṭṭalācārya (*TC*, II. 1912); by Cheṭṭu Keri (*TC*, II 1549); by Lakṣmiṇṛsiṃha (*TC*, II. 1409).

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⁸ *BTC*, 107; *Rice*, 196.

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⁹ *CC*, I. 46.

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214. Trivikrama.

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Among the immediate desciples of Śrī Madhva was Trivikrama,¹⁰ whom he converted to his faith after a long series of discussions. He wrote Uṣāharaṇakāvya and Vāyusṭuṭi.¹¹

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¹⁰ Printed, Bombay with the commentary of Sumaṭīndra. Sumaṭīndra extolled King Shahaji of Tanjore in his Sumaṭīndrajayaghoṣaṇa. *Tanj. Cat.*, VII. 3284.

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¹¹ *TC*, II. 1141, 1907, with commentary (*TC*, II. 1914) by Kavidarpaṇa Vedāṅgamuni.

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Trivikrama's son was Nārāyaṇa. To him we owe the first account of Śrī Madhva's life in his poems Madhvavijaya,¹² Aṇumadhvavijaya,¹ and Maṇimanjarī.² His Pārijātaharaṇa is a Yamaka poem.³ He wrote also Śivastuti, Viṣṇustuti, Nṛsiṁhastotra and Saṅgraha-Rāmāyaṇa.⁴

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¹² Printed, Bombay, with commentary by Śeṣācārya, *TC*, II. 1169.

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¹ There is a commentary by Veṅkaṭabhaṭṭa, *TC*, II. 1665.

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² Printed, Bombay with Subrahmaṇya's commentary. There are commentaries by Anantācārya (*DC*, XX. 7915), by Jammi Bhāvanāsyācārya (*TC*, II. 7945) and by Vittalācārya (*TC*, II. 2003).

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³ Printed, Poona. *DC*, XX. 7936.

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⁴ Printed, Bombay and Belgaum. In *DC*, XV. 7976, there is an anonymous commentary.

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**215.** Of Madhva's desciples, four succeeded as pontiffs, one after another, Padmanābha, Narahari, Mādhava and Akṣobhya. From Akṣobhya,⁵ Jayatīrtha got his initiation. He is said to have died in 1388 A.D. The life of Jayatīrtha is described in poems by Vyāsatīrtha in his Jayatīrthavijaya,⁶ by Kṛṣṇa in Jayatīrthavijayābdhi,⁷ by Saṅkarṣaṇa in Jayatīrthavijaya,⁸ and by Karkohalli Śrīnivāsa in Jayīndrodaya.⁹

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⁵ Akṣobhya, Vidyāraṇya, Vedānta Deśika and Jayatīrtha were contemporaries.

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⁶ Printed, Mysore.

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⁷ *Mys. OML. Sup.* 10.

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⁸ Printed, Belgaum.

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⁹ *Mys. OML. Sup.* 10.

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**216.** After Jayatīrtha, the most famous among the Madhva Acāryas was Vyāsarāya.¹⁰ He lived in 1447-1539 A.D. He was practically the moving influence in the Court of Vijianagar from the days of Sālva Narasiṁha to Acyutadevarāya who ruled in 1486-1542 A.D.¹¹

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¹⁰ He was desciple of Brahmaṇyatīrtha, whose life is described in Brahmaṇyatīrthavijaya (See B. Venkobarao's *Int. to Sri Vyasayogicarita*, LXXIII). Brahmaṇya died about 1523 A.D.

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¹¹ See para 124 *supra*.

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The life of Vyāsarāya is described in the Vyāsayogicaritacampū by Somanātha,¹² which was continued by Śrīvidyāratnākarasvāmi,¹³ and the poem Vyāsavijaya. Somanātha's prose is enchanting. The reader feels as if it is Kādambarī. He is reported to be the sister's son of Anantabhaṭṭa, author of Campūbhārata, who lived about 1500 A.D. Somanātha was introduced to his hero Vyāsarāya in the reign of King Acyutadevarāya and must have lived about 1535 A.D. Somanātha's grand-father Bhaṭṭa Gayāmukṭi Bhāskara, known as Kālameghādhvarin, was a great poet.¹⁴

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¹² Ed. Bangalore with a long introduction dealing with the contemporary history of Kingdom of Vijianagar by B. Venkobarao.

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¹³ *Op. cit.* lxxii.

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¹⁴ See B. Venkobarao, *op. cit.* iiii-ix.

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**217.** Puraṁdaradāsa, the distinguished author of Kanarese devotional songs, was Vyāsarāya's desciple. So was **Vadirāja**. Vādirāja is said to have opened an old treasury at a crisis, for King Acyutadevarāya. He rebuilt the temple at Udipi, but before the golden dome was erected the Kingdom of Vijianagar was subverted by defeat at the battle of Talikota.¹ He was a great poet and among his poems are Rukmiṇīśa-vijaya,² Sarasabhāratīvilāsa,³ Tīrthaprabandha,⁴ Ekībhāvastotra,⁵ and Daśāvatārastuti.⁶ His life is described in Vādirājavṛttaratnasaṅgraha by Raghunātha.⁷

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¹ See B. Venkobarap, *op. cit.* CLXXIII.

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² *CC*, I. 562.

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³ Printed, Belgaum.

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⁴ Printed, Calcutta.

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⁵ Printed, Bombay.

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⁶ Printed, Belgaum.

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⁷ *CAL*, II. 25.

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Satyanāthatīrtha's original name was Raghunāthācārya. He died in 1674 A.D.⁸ His life is depicted in Satyanāthamāhātmyaratnākara,⁹ in Satyanāthābhyudaya¹⁰ by Saṅkarṣaṇa, son of Seṣācārya, and in Satyanāthavilāsa by Śrīnivāsa.¹¹

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⁸ *CC*, I. 688.

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⁹ *CC*, I. 689.

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¹⁰ *Mys. OML. Sup.* II; *Tanj. Cat.*, VI. 2676.

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¹¹ *Tanj. Cat.*, VI. 2676, 2680.

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There are poems on the lives of Dvaita Ācāryas:¹² Viśvapriyaguṇa-līlāvilāsa by Setumādhava,¹³ Raghavendravijaya by Nārāyaṇa,¹⁴ and Satyanidhivilāsa by Śrīnivāsa,¹⁵ Seturāyavijaya,¹⁶ Satyabodhāvijayā,¹⁷ by Kṛṣṇa.¹⁸

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¹² On the history of Madhva Acaryas, see *IA*, XLIII. 233, 262.

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¹³ *Mys. OMS. Sup.* 11.

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¹⁴ *SVH*, 252. Raghavendra was contemporary of Yagnanārāyaṇa Dikṣita, (See para 150 *supra*).

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¹⁵ *Mys. OMS. Sup.* 11.

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¹⁶ *CAL*, II. 16

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¹⁷ *Ibid.*,

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¹⁸ *Mys. OML. Sup.* 11.

Section 3

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**218.** **Basava**, the founder of the Veeraśaiva cult of the Lingāyats, was the prime minister of the Kalacuri King Bhijjala who came to the throne at Kalyan in 1156 A.D.¹⁹ The tradition is that the sect was founded by five ascetics—Ekorāma, Paṇḍitārādhya, Revaṇa, Marula, Visvārādhya—who are held to have sprung from the five heads of Śiva, incarnate age after age. These are regarded as very ancient, and Basava is said to have been but the reviver of the faith.¹ Yet the early literature shows that the five were all his contemporaries, some older, some younger.² In the poem Basaveśavijaya,³ Śaṅkarārādhya describes his life, and so does Somanātha in his Basavapurāṇa,⁴ and Basavanagadya. Somanātha also wrote a poem Paṇḍitārādhyacarita on the life of Paṇḍitārādhya, the Liṅgayat Guru. Somanātha (Palkurki), of Bhṛṅgiritagotra and son of Guruliṅga, lived in the time of King Pratāparudra I (1140-1196 A.D.).⁵

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¹⁹ See *IA*, V. 175.

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¹ On Lingayat legends and literature, see *IA*, IV. 17, 211; V, 183.

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² Farquhar, *ORL*, 260. For bibliography, see *Ibid.*, 387.

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³ Printed, Mysore.

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⁴ *Mys. OML*. 548; *Ibid*., *Sup*. 34.

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⁵ See Veeresalingam's *Works*, X. 220.

Section 4

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**219. Sri Gauranga**, whose original name was Nimai, was born of Jagannātha and Śacī at Nadia in Phalgun, of Śaka 1407 (1486 A.D.) on the banks of the Bhāgīrathī. His childhood foretold his future greatness. He married Viṣṇupriyā, daughter of Sanātanamiśra. He was called Gaurāṅga or Gour for his fair complexion. When he became inspired and an ascetic, he took the name Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. He sang the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and became the founder of the school of Bhakti or devotion. He passed away in 1527 A.D.⁶ Among his poems are Gopālacaritra,⁷ Premāmṛta,⁸ Saṅkṣepabhāgavatāmṛta,⁹ Harināmakavaca,¹⁰ Dānakeliciṇtāmaṇi.¹¹

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⁶ For an account of his life, see S. K. Ghose, *Lord Gauranga*, Calcutta; R. B. Dineschandra Sen, *Chaitanya and his age* and *Chaitanya and his companions*; M. T. Kennedy, *Chaitanya and his movement*; Y. Sircar, *Chaitanya's pilgrimages and teachings*; Farquhar, *ORL*, 476.

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⁷ *CC*, I. 161.

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⁸ *CSC*, (1907), No. 54; (1908) No. 67. with commentary by Vitthala.

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⁹ *CC*, I. 864.

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¹⁰ *CC*, I. 758.

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¹¹ *CSC*, (1908) 67.

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**220. Rupa**¹² was born in 1490 A.D. He was a scion of the Goswāmī line and Kumāra was his father. Vallabha and Sanatāna were his brothers. His sixth ancestor Aniruddha was a Raja of Karnat about Saka 1338. His family was immensely rich. Rūpa and Sanātana were made the prime ministers of Hosen Sahara, Emperor of Gauda.¹ By nature, of a religious disposition, they were attracted by the teachings of the reformer Caitanya,² and gave up home to become ascetics. Their greatness as religious teachers is described in the Vaisnava literature of Bengal.³ Rūpa passed away in 1563 A.D.⁴

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¹² For an account, see D. C. Sen's *History of Bengali Literature* (Calcutta), 503; Introduction to Ujvalanīlamaṇi (Kavyamāla); Introduction to Caitanyacandrodaya (Kavyamāla).

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¹ Rupa is mentioned by Rājaśekhara in his Kāvyaṁimāṁsa Rupadeva mentioned in *Skm*, and Padyavali and Rupadeva, author of commentary on Gītagovinda, are different poets.

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² Sanātana lived between 1484—1558 A.D.

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³ For a fuller account, see Narahari Chakravarṭi's Bhaktiratnākara.

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⁴ Printed Kāvyamāla, Bombay. There is a commentary on it by Cakravarṭi. It is in fact Gītagovinda dramatised. "The piece is also in its different portions supposed to be applicable to the different seasons of the year, at which the chief festivals in honour of Kṛṣṇa are held, or the festival of Spring in Chaitra of Vaisakha, that of the birth of Kṛṣṇa in Sravana of the rains, and the Rāsayātra or dance of Kṛṣṇa with the Gopis in the autumn." Wilson, *Theatre*, II. 393.

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As a poet and rhetorician, Rūpa is of a high order.⁵ The poetic instinct saturated with bhakti or love for Kṛṣṇa manifested itself in several forms of composition, always with the life of Kṛṣṇa as its theme. Vidagdhamādhava, and Lalitamādhava⁶ are dramas in seven acts describing the loves of Kṛṣṇa, and Rādhā as related in the Bhāgavata, Dānakelikaumudī⁷ and is a bhāṇa with its hero, Kṛṣṇa. Hamsadūta and Uddhavasandeśa are poems of message,⁸ on the model of Meghadūta. Padyāvali is an anthology and names the authors it quotes.⁹

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⁵ For a list of his works, see *CC*, I. 533.

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⁶ *IO*, VII. 4179; *CC*, I. 542; III. 115; also note a commentary by Nārāyaṇa.

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⁷ *DC*, XI. 8406. There are commentaries on it by Jīvāgresari and Raghunāthadāsa. See Vaisṇavadharmaprakāsikā (Murshidabad), Parts I to VI.

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⁸ There is a commentary on Hamsadūta by Mādhavamiśra *alias* Puruṣottama.

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⁹ See Thomas, *Kav*. 11.

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Among his other works,¹⁰ are Ujjvalacandrikā (a dialogue between Caitanyacandra's sister Rādhā and her friend about Kṛṣṇa), Yamunāstotra, Gandharvaprārthanāstotra, Gaurāṅgastavakalpataru, Kusumastabaka, Mukundamuktāvali, Cātupuṣpāñjalistava, Utkalikāvallari, Laghu-Bhāgavatamṛta, Ānandamahodadhi, and Mathurāmahimā.¹¹ By far his greatest work is the Ujjavalanīlamaṇi.¹² As a treatise on poetics it describes classes and conditions of lovers and the several stages and modes of their affection and is profusely illustrated with verses, all devoted to Kṛṣṇa. There are commentaries on it by Jīvagoswāmi,¹ by Viśvanāthacakravartin,² and three anonymous.³ His Nāṭakacandrikā⁴ is a treatise on drama based on the Nāṭyaśāstra and he refers to the views of Viśvanāṭha as opposed to Bharaṭa.

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¹⁰ *CC*, I. 533, III. 113; *TC*, IV. R. No. 3050.

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¹¹ *CC*, I, 68. Composed in 1560 A.D.

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¹² Ed. Kāvyamāla, Bombay, 95.

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¹ Ed. Bombay. Composed in 1580 A D.

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² Ed. Bombay. Composed in 1695 A.D. He wrote a commentary on Bhāgavata in Kavikarṇapūra's Alaṅkārakaustubha.

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³ CC, I. 62; CSC, XI. 3.

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⁴ Ed. Kasimbazar. DC, XXIII. 8669.

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**221.** Rūpa had two brothers. Vallabha and Sanāṭana. Sanāṭana commented on Rūpa's Ujjvalanīlamaṇi and wrote among other works,⁵ Haribhaktivilāsa⁶ and Bhāgavatāmṛta.⁷ He lived in 1484-1558 A.D.

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⁵ See CC. I. 693.

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⁶ See CC, I. 758. There is another work of this name by Gopāla Bhatta *Ibid*.

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⁷ See CC, I. 403-4.

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Rūpa's desciple RAGHUNATHADASA wrote the short but beautiful poem the Muktācarita,⁸ a funny tale in which Kṛṣṇa told Satyabhāma that pearls could be grown as a crop and demonstrated it by sowing a pearl and watering it with milk. Then the Gopīs sowed all the pearls they had, but no plants came out. After repeated entreaties, Kṛṣṇa relented and returned the pearls.

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⁸ TC, IV. 4830-2.

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**222. Jīva Goswami** was the son of Vallabha, Rūpa's younger brother. He was born in Śaka 1445 (1435 ?) at Rūmakeli near Fatehbad. He became an ascetic when he was twenty and was head of a Goswami mutt at Bṛndāvana, until his demise in Saka 1540 (1618 A.D.) Among his works⁹ are Gopālacampū, Mādhavamahotsava, Bhaktirasāmṛtasindhu, Govindabirudāvali and Jāhnavyaṣṭaka.¹⁰

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⁹ For a complete list of his works, see *Int*. to Ujjvalanīlamaṇi, *loc. cit*.

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¹⁰ TC, IV. 4471-4.

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**223. Kavikarṇapūra** was the son of Śivānanda Sena of Kancanapalli near Nadia. His father was the purveyor of the Bengali followers of Caitanya to Puri, so long as Caitanya lived, at the cost of Vasudevaḍaṭṭa, a millionare.¹¹ He was born in 1524 A.D. He was educated at Kumārahaṭṭa, modern Hailasar, north of Calcutta. He was a pupil probably of Jīvagoswāmi. In his Gaurāṅgagaṇoddeśadīpikā,¹² composed in Saka 1498 (1577 A.D.) he traces Caitanya's followers to their prior births; for instance, Caitanya's father Jagannāṭha is traced to Nanda, the father of Kṛṣṇa, and to Dasaratha, the father of Rāma. Every follower of Caitanya is traced to one of the Gopikas or milkmaids in the Kṛṣṇa incarnation and to one of the monkeys in the Rāma incarnation.

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¹¹ See CSC, (1909), No. 36.

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¹² CSC, (1907), 45; *HPR*, II. (for an account).

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In his play Caitanyacandrodaya,¹ composed in 1543 A.D., he depicted the life of Caitanya. Besides Alaṅkārakaustubha,² on rhetoric, he wrote Camatkāracandrikā,³ and Ānandabṛndāvanacampū,⁴ on the loves of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

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¹ Printed Calcutta and Bombay.

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² Ed. partly by Sivaprasad Bhaṭācārya; *Oxf.* 209. There are commentaries by Lokanātha (*CC*, I. 31) and by Bṛndāvanacandra (*IO*, 240).

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³ *IO*, 1463; *Mitra*, VI. 212 and 2150.

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⁴ *IO*, 492, 645. There is another of that name by Paramānandadāsa (printed Benares) and another by Keśava (*NP*, X. 16).

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**224.** Among the great men of Goswami's order, Śrīdāsa wrote Rādhākuṇḍaṣṭava, Raghunātha wrote Vilāpakusumāñjaliṣṭava, and Kṛṣṇakavirāja wrote Rādhāṣṭaka,⁵ and Govindadāsa (1537-1612 A.D.) wrote Sangītamādhava and Karṇāmṛta.⁶ In his Bhaktirasāmṛtasindhu, Sanātana describes the four varieties of Bhakti to Lord Kṛṣṇa and develops the sentiment according to the theories of rhetoric.⁷

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⁵ See *TC*, IV. No. 3050-3. Yadunandana wrote Vilāpakusumāñjali, *CSC*, (1907) No. 59.

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⁶ See D. C. Sen, *History of Bengali Literature*, 547.

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⁷ In *CC*, I 390 Aufrecht gives it as the work of Sanātana composed in 1542 A.D. (*IO*, 820). But in *TC*, VI. 4434, it is cited as the work of Rūpagoswāmi.

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Raghunātha's desciple Kṛṣṇadāsa wrote the poems Govindalīlāmṛta,⁸ and Kṛṣṇalīlāṣṭava.⁹

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⁸ This poem is described as the work of (i) Raghunāthadāsa (*IO*, VII. 3875); (ii) Raghunāthabhaṭṭa (*Mitra*, II. 571). But the real author of Kṛṣṇadāsa (*Ulwar*, 38). See article by C. Chakravarti (*IA*, LVII. 208).

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⁹ See *TC*, IV. R. No. 3053.

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