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History of Classical Sanskrit Literature c19.s1: Section 1

History of Classical Sanskrit Literature c19.s1

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English

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.

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