Nandapaṇḍita
By Swami Harshananda
Nandapaṇḍita lived in circa A. D. 1580-1630. He was son of Rāmapaṇḍita Devaśarma, was a descendant of Lakṣmīdhara, belonging to Bidar.[1] He probably lived mostly in Kāśī where he composed his voluminous works on the dharmaśāstras. His another name was Vināyaka. He was patronized by several rich persons from different parts of the country like Paramānanda of the Sahagila family, Harivamśavarma of the Mahendra family and Keśavanāyaka of Madhurā.
His most famous work is the Dattaka-mimānsā which had been considered as an authority even by the British rulers of India while settling family disputes of the people. Out of the thirteen works attributed to him, a few many be mentioned here:
- Vidvanmanoharā on Parāśarasmrtv, Pramitākṣarā, a commentary on the Mitākṣarā of Vijñāneśvara[2]
- Śrāddhakalpalatā
- Smṛtisindhu and its summary Tattvamuktāvalī
- Dattakamīmānsā has his own commentary
Though Nandapaṇḍita generally follows the Mitāksarā, he sometimes differs strongly from it with regard to succession and a few other matters.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math,
Bangalore