Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c6.s5.t16.8
Vāda in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c6.s5.t16.8
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c6.s5.t16.8
In some of the biographies of Śaṅkarācārya, Kumārila asks Śaṅkara to go for a debate with Maṇḍana Miśra.¹⁴³ According to *Padmapādacaritam* of Durgāprasāda Yatin, the *vāda* between Śaṅkara and Umveka was held in a temple in the presence of Umveka's wife. Śaṅkara defeated Umveka thrice in the debate. The reason for holding the debate for a second and third time was the overruling by the wife of Umveka. When her husband was defeated for the third time, she placed a stick and a jug (*daṇḍa* and *kamaṇḍalu*) before her husband and said: “O *vipra*! now you are really defeated, do whatever you wish now!” — and went to her home.¹⁴⁴