Vidyāraṇya
By Swami Harshananda
Significance of Balance in Varṇas[edit]
No country can have peace and progress unless ruled by a balanced combination of kṣāttriyas[1] and brāhmatejas.[2] The former can degenerate into tyranny without the latter. And the latter becomes impotent without the protection of the former.
Origin of Vidyāraṇya[edit]
Vidyāraṇya lived in A. D. 1296-1386. He was one of the three brightest stars considered to be an intellectual asset to the country, other two being Kautilya[3] and Samartha Rāmadāsa.[4] Born probably in A. D. 1296 as the eldest son of Māyaṇa and Srīmatī, Mādhava or Mādhavācārya, his premonastic name, was educated by his father first, and later by Vidyātīrtha,[5] Bhāratīkṛṣṇatīrtha,[6] Śaṅkarānanda[7] and Śrīkaṇṭhanātha.[8]
Realization for the Need of Hindu Empire[edit]
Moved by the pitiable condition of the contemporary society which had been battered by the repeated invasions of the Muslim marauders and their savagery, Vidyāraṇya discovered after a period of intense tapas,[9] the need to establish a purely Hindu kingdom under the heroic leadership of a suitable person. Fortunately for him, he was able to get the excellent assistance of two kṣattriya warrior-brothers named Hakka and Bukka with whom he established the city of Vidyānagara or Vijayanagara as a nucleus. In course of time, it developed into a glorious Hindu empire which lasted for about 230 years.
He continued to guide the ruler of the kingdom till his last days. His samādhi[10] is situated at the back of the Virupākṣa temple at Hampi in the Bellary district of Karnataka. He was the pontiff of the Śṛigeri Śāradāpīṭha[11] from A. D. 1377 to A. D. 1386. In the post-Śaṅkara period, he was one of the best exponents of Advaita philosophy.
Works by Vidyāraṇya[edit]
His works are:
- Pañcadaśi
- Jīvanmuktiviveka
- Anubhutiprakāśa
- Vivaraṇaprameyasañgraha
- Brhadāranyakavārttikāsāra
- Nrsimha-uttaratāpanīya-upaniṣad-dīpikā
- Parāśaramādhavīya
- Sarvadarśanasañgraha
- Vaiyāsika-nyāyamālā
His another great contribution was inspiring his younger brother Śāyaṇācārya[12] to compose detailed commentaries on all the four Vedas, now well- known as the Vedārthaprakāśa.
References[edit]
- ↑ Kṣāttriyas means kingly power.
- ↑ Brāhmatejas means saintly guidance.
- ↑ He lived in 321 B. C.
- ↑ He lived in A. D. 1608-1681.
- ↑ He lived in A. D. 1380.
- ↑ He lived in circa A. D. 1356.
- ↑ He lived in d. A. D. 1417.
- ↑ He lived in circa A. D. 1356.
- ↑ Tapas means austerity.
- ↑ Samādhi means tomb.
- ↑ It is one of the four monasteries established by Śaṅkara who lived in A. D. 788-820.
- ↑ He lived in d. A. D. 1387.
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore