Māgaḍi Lakṣmīnarasiṃha Śāstri--Pāṭhaśālā and Guru

This article is part 2 of 8 in the series Māgaḍi Lakṣmīnarasiṃha Śāstri

In 1931, Lakṣmīnarasiṃha Śāstri joined the Pāṭhaśālā in this Maṭha for higher studies. He was then eighteen years of age. The background of this Pāṭhaśālā requires mention.

शुद्धाद्वैतपथस्य पालनकृते पूर्वं त्वया स्थापित-

स्थानेष्वन्यतमस्थशिष्यततिगस्तत्कार्यकृत्यक्षमः।

अज्ञानां धुरि कीर्तनीयचरितो नाद्यापि विद्यालय-

स्तस्मात्स्थानमिदं गुरूत्तम कृपावार्धे त्वमेवाश्रय॥

यद्वा दुर्मतभेदपाटववतीं मेधां नवोन्मेषिणीं

विद्यामश्रुतशास्त्रपाठनचणां दद्याद्द्रुतं चेद्गुरो।

साहाय्यं च सुधन्वपार्थिवसदृग्राजावलेतर्ह्यहं

त्वद्वीक्षाबलतो यते यतिपते तत्त्वाध्वसंवृद्धये॥

Śaṅkarācārya-stotra-kadamba

(“I belong to a line of disciples that adheres to one of the many Centres you established to disseminate the essence of Advaita Vedānta. One fit to be counted as the foremost among the ignorant, I am unable to accomplish the objectives of this Centre. Therefore, I beseech you, the best among Gurus, a veritable ocean of compassion, to kindly occupy this position.

Or, if you at once bless me with a creative intellect that can thwart ill-willed people, with the power to understand and teach scriptures hitherto unknown, and with the support of munificent kings, I shall, by your grace, attempt to enrich the lore of Philosophy.”)

Śrī Saccidānanda-śivābhinava-nṛsiṃha-bhāratī Mahāsvāmi composed these verses to give expression to tempestuous emotions brewing within, when he stood before the idol of Ādi Śaṅkara in Kerala, ready to travel back to Sringeri. He was the thirty-third pontiff of the Sringeri Śāradā-pīṭha; he earned far-reaching fame even during his lifetime.

The Mahāsvāmi founded the Śaṅkara-maṭha in Bengaluru in the Kīlaka Saṃvatsara (1907 CE), aided by conducive conditions and the patronage of the Mysore Mahārāja’s Government. It was his blessings that played a pivotal role in instituting the Bhāratīya-gīrvāṇa-prauḍha-vidyābhivardinī Pāṭhaśālā (Virodhikṛt Saṃvatsara, 1911 CE) as a prominent organ of the Śaṅkara-maṭha, to revitalize the study of Vedānta.

It is to the singular credit of the Mahāsvāmi that he had the foresight to recognize the need for and importance of scriptural learning in modern times.  

With the intention to set only the highest standards for the Pāṭhaśālā, he devised its curriculum in an exhaustive manner, which was greatly elaborate in comparison with the curricula adopted by other centres of learning. A course of its study lasted for eight years. (In recent times this has been reduced to six years.)

Only after securing firm grounding in Tarka-śāstra (Logic) would students proceed to study Pūrva-mīmāṃsā (Vedic exegesis) or Uttara-mīmāṃsā (Vedānta philosophy). Accordingly, the first module involved studying the texts of Logic such as Annambhaṭṭa's Tarka-saṅgraha (along with Dīpikā, the commentary thereon), Viśvanātha Nyāyapañcānana’s Kārikāvalī, and Muktāvalī (along with the commentary Dinakarī). Subsequently, the student had to study paribhāṣā-prakaraṇa (from Bhaṭṭoji-dīkṣita’s Siddhānta-kaumudī), Appayya-dīkṣita’s Siddhānta-leśa-saṅgraha, Āpadeva's Mīmāṃsā-nyāya-prakāśa, and Khaṇḍadeva’s Bhāṭṭa-dīpikā (nīvītānta-bhāga). After these, students would study the subject of their preference (Mīmāṃsā or Vedānta) in the next six to seven years. A mere glance at the curriculum of these subjects is enough to scare commoners:

Vedānta—

1. Vedānta-paribhāṣā

2. Siddhānta-leśa-saṅgraha

3. Śaṅkarācārya's commentaries on the ten principal Upaniṣads

4. Śaṅkarācārya's commentary on Bhagavad-gītā

5. Śaṅkarācārya's commentary on Brahma-sūtras

6. Advaita-siddhi (complete first chapter and Akhaṇḍārtha-vāda in the second chapter)

7. Brahmānandīya-laghucandrikā (Upādhyanta)

8. The first four aphorisms of the Brahma-sūtras (along with Bhāmatī, Kalpataru, and Parimaḻa)

9. Pañcapādikā-vivaraṇa (first chapter)

10. Nyāya-rakṣāmaṇi (select portions)

Mīmāṃsā—

1. Mīmāṃsā-nyāya-prakāśa

2. Bhāṭṭa-dīpikā (all twelve chapters)

3. Bhāṭṭa-kaustubha (complete, until Balābalādhikaraṇa)

4. Bhāṭṭa-rahasya (complete text)

5. Śābara-bhāṣya on Jaiminīya-sūtras (first three chapters)

6. Kumārila-bhaṭṭa’s Śloka-vārtika

7. Pārthasārathi-miśra’s Śāstra-dīpikā (until Tarka-pāda)

8. Aṅgatva-nirukti

9. Appayya-dīkṣita’s Vidhi-rasāyana

10. Appayya-dīkṣita’s Vāda-nakṣatra-mālā (select arguments)

In the last century, numerous people accomplished the study of this expansive and difficult coursework and emerged as scholars. This is indeed laudable.

The Jagadguru was of the firm opinion that teachers must strictly observe their ritualistic duties and count as role models for the society, apart from imparting textual knowledge to students. In the Pāṭhaśālā, there was a written examination once in three months, and an oral as well as written examination once in six months. An external examiner would be present alongside in-house scholars in the final examination. Students who completed this eight-year coursework were honoured in Sringeri during the Navarātra celebrations—a golden bracelet, a set of shawls, two hundred rupees in cash, and the title ‘Paṇḍita-pravara’ were conferred upon them.    

With a view to make the Bengaluru Pāṭhaśālā the best centre of traditional learning in the country, the Jagadguru invited the very best scholars of the time to serve as teachers. Each of them was an acknowledged colossus: during the first term (1911–1916), Śruti-śirobhūṣaṇa Veḻḻūru Subrahmaṇya Śāstri was the teacher of Vedānta. (He passed away in 1917.) After him, Nyāya-pañcānana Hānagal Virūpākṣa Śāstri occupied the position (1917–1926). He later took saṃnyāsa and was known as Śrīmad Vālukeśvara Bhāratī. He shed his mortal body in 1926.

Between 1911 and 1938, Mīmāṃsā-kaṇṭhīrava Nemam Vaidyanātha Śāstri was the teacher of Mīmāṃsā. (He passed away in 1942.) His students occupied the post in later times. For a period of twelve years starting from 1929, Ācārya Navīnam Veṅkaṭeśa Śāstri was the teacher of Vedānta. 

Ācārya Navīnam Veṅkaṭeśa Śāstri

Right from the time Lakṣmīnarasiṃha Śāstri joined the Pāṭhaśālā (1931), Śrī Navīnam Veṅkaṭeśa Śāstri was his Guru. Guru he was not just in the formal sense of an instructor, but in a broader, life-enriching sense.  

Śrī Navīnam Veṅkaṭeśa Śāstri hailed from Palghat. He took initial lessons on Nyāya under Śrī Candraśekhara-bhāratī Mahāsvāmi. He successfully completed the course of study of Vedānta and Mīmāṃsā under Virūpākṣa Śāstri and Vaidyanātha Śāstri respectively. Starting from 1941, after the tenure of Palghat Nārāyaṇa Śāstri, he was the professor of Advaita in the Mahārāja Sanskrit Pāṭhaśālā in Mysore. He used to regularly deliver discourses on philosophy before Mahārāja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar.

Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa Śāstri ruled over the scholarly terrain of Vedānta, Mīmāṃsā, and Tarka for over three decades. There was no scriptural work that he did not know from memory; there was no line of argument in Logic that was unfamiliar to him. On no occasion did he lose in debate.

During Cāturmāsya[1], the pontiff of the Parakāla-maṭha in Mysore used to organize scholarly debates on the śāstras every evening. That was a unique worship of the deity of knowledge. The participants were the crème de la crème of traditional scholars: Navīnam Veṅkaṭeśa Śāstri, Āraḍi Koppa Subrahmaṇya Śāstri, Saṅkaranārāyaṇa Śāstri et al. The Mahāsvāmi would instruct a student to begin the exposition on a topic. Once the topic was decided in this manner, streams of logic argument would unceasingly flow forth from the scholars, masterfully expressed in chaste and appropriate words. The Mahāsvāmi had arranged the proceedings in such a manner that Navīnam Veṅkaṭeśa Śāstri’s turn to speak was reserved for the very end. The reason for this was simple: once this tiger began to roar, everyone else remained silent, completely dumbstruck. Who could challenge the Himalayan heights of his erudition? At times, his exposition would go on in an uninterrupted fashion for two or three hours, marshalling newer arguments every instant, without any sign of stopping. The Mahāsvāmi would then tactfully conclude the deliberations citing his daily austerities as excuse.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the then-President of India, was put up at the Lalit Mahal Palace in Mysore during his period of rest. Since he had great regard for traditional learning, he visited the Mahārāja Sanskrit Pāṭhaśālā. He witnessed a scholarly debate between Navīnam Veṅkaṭeśa Śāstri and Caturvedī Rāmacandrācārya. Extremely pleased, he reverentially prostrated before the scholars.

Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa Śāstri used to refine and logically reinforce many tenets of Vedānta whereon no traditional commentary exists. Since he came up with these new lines of argument himself, the epithet ‘Navīnam’ came to be associated with him. Many titles and honorifics adorned him—‘Darśanālaṅkāra’ (given by the Sringeri Maṭha), ‘Paṇḍita-ratna’ (given by the Mahārāja of Mysore), ‘‘Paṇḍita-rāja’ (given by the Mahārāja of Kochi) etc.

Thorough Study

Lakṣmīnarasiṃha Śāstri used to gratefully muse on many occasions throughout his life that he was extremely fortunate to study under eminent Gurus.

Brilliance, irrepressible thirst for knowledge, impeccable power of retention, respect for tradition, and the will to toil were some traits present in Lakṣmīnarasiṃha Śāstri from birth. Unconditional affection and prodigious education provided by his Guru, coupled with the serene ambiance of the Pāṭhaśālā sanctified by the Jagadguru’s grace, helped augment these traits. Added to this list of conducive factors were constant interaction with scholars and company of committed, like-minded classmates. It is no wonder then, that Lakṣmīnarasiṃha Śāstri’s education progressed without hassles and hurdles.

Śrī Koḍūru Kṛṣṇa Jois (1.8.1912–24.1.2001) and Śrī Anantamūrti Śāstri were his classmates. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Jois served as professor of Vedānta in the same Pāṭhaśālā starting from 1959. He was the āsthāna-vidvān (resident scholar) of Sringeri. Śāṅkara-darśana-marma-prakāśa, Mūlāvidyā Bhāṣyavārtikasammatā, and Dharmaśāstra-karadīpikā are some of his works. They are all excellent expositions on their respective subjects.in 1989, he received the President’s Award for his contribution to Sanskrit. Śrī Anantamūrti Śāstri was the professor of Nyāya in the Cāmarājendra Sanskrit Pāṭhaśālā in Bengaluru. He gave regular discourses on Vedānta at various places including his home. He spoke less, was contemplative by nature, and had thorough knowledge of the scriptures. Lakṣmīnarasiṃha Śāstri was particularly respectful of him. he used to say, “Whenever doubts arise in my mind, I go to Anantamūrti Śāstri for clarification.” The reason for this was his ripeness of insight, apart from his astounding erudition.    



[1] The four months of the rainy season in which monks camp in a conducive place and study the scriptures and practise spiritual disciplines. Their vow commences on Guru-pūrṇimā.

To be continued.

 

Author(s)

About:

Nadoja Dr. S R Ramaswamy is a renowned journalist, writer, art critic, environmentalist, and social activist. He has authored over fifty books and thousands of articles. He was a close associate of stalwarts like D. V. Gundappa, Rallapalli Anantakrishna Sharma, V Sitaramaiah, and others. He is currently the honorary Editor-in-Chief of Utthana and served as the Honorary Secretary of the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs for many years.

Translator(s)

About:

Shashi Kiran B N holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master's degree in Sanskrit. His interests include Indian aesthetics, Hindu scriptures, Sanskrit and Kannada literature and philosophy.

Prekshaa Publications

Among the many contributions of ancient Indians to world thought, perhaps the most insightful is the realisation that ānanda (Bliss) is the ultimate goal of human existence. Since time immemorial, India has been a land steeped in contemplation about the nature of humans and the universe. The great ṛṣis (seers) and ṛṣikās (seeresses) embarked on critical analysis of subjective experience and...

One of the two great epics of India and arguably the most popular epic in the world, the Ramayana has enchanted generations of people not just in Greater India but the world over. In less than three hundred pages The Essential Ramayana captures all the poetic subtleties and noble values of the original and offers the great epic in an eminently readable form that will appeal to the learned and...

The Bhagavad-gītā isn’t merely a treatise on ultimate liberation. It is also a treatise on good living. Even the laity, which does not have its eye on mokṣa, can immensely benefit from the Gītā. It has the power to grant an attitude of reverence in worldly life, infuse enthusiasm in the execution of duty, impart fortitude in times of adversity, and offer solace to the heart when riddled by...

Indian Perspective of Truth and Beauty in Homer’s Epics is a unique work on the comparative study of the Greek Epics Iliad and Odyssey with the Indian Epics – Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata. Homer, who laid the foundations for the classical tradition of the West, occupies a stature similar to that occupied by the seer-poets Vālmīki and Vyāsa, who are synonymous with the Indian culture. The author...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the sixth volume of reminiscences character sketches of prominent public figures, liberals, and social workers. These remarkable personages hailing from different corners of South India are from a period that spans from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Written in Kannada in the 1970s, these memoirs go...

An Introduction to Hinduism based on Primary Sources

Authors: Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh, Hari Ravikumar

What is the philosophical basis for Sanātana-dharma, the ancient Indian way of life? What makes it the most inclusive and natural of all religio-philosophical systems in the world?

The Essential Sanātana-dharma serves as a handbook for anyone who wishes to grasp the...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the fifth volume, episodes from the lives of traditional savants responsible for upholding the Vedic culture. These memorable characters lived a life of opulence amidst poverty— theirs  was the wealth of the soul, far beyond money and gold. These vidvāns hailed from different corners of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom and lived in...

Padma Bhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam represents the quintessence of Sage Bharata’s art and Bhārata, the country that gave birth to the peerless seer of the Nāṭya-veda. Padma’s erudition in various streams of Indic knowledge, mastery over many classical arts, deep understanding of the nuances of Indian culture, creative genius, and sublime vision bolstered by the vedāntic and nationalistic...

Bhārata has been a land of plenty in many ways. We have had a timeless tradition of the twofold principle of Brāhma (spirit of wisdom) and Kṣāttra (spirit of valour) nourishing and protecting this sacred land. The Hindu civilisation, rooted in Sanātana-dharma, has constantly been enriched by brāhma and safeguarded by kṣāttra.
The renowned Sanskrit poet and scholar, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R...

ಛಂದೋವಿವೇಕವು ವರ್ಣವೃತ್ತ, ಮಾತ್ರಾಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕರ್ಷಣಜಾತಿ ಎಂದು ವಿಭಕ್ತವಾದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಬಗೆಯ ಛಂದಸ್ಸುಗಳನ್ನೂ ವಿವೇಚಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಬಂಧಗಳ ಸಂಕಲನ. ಲೇಖಕರ ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲಿಕ ಆಲೋಚನೆಯ ಸಾರವನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡ ಈ ಹೊತ್ತಗೆ ಪ್ರಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಛಂದಸ್ಸಿನ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಲಕ್ಷಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ತೌಲನಿಕ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಂತಃಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ಅಧ್ಯಯನಗಳ ತೆಕ್ಕೆಗೆ ಬರುವ ಬರೆಹಗಳೂ ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ. ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಕಾರನಿಗಲ್ಲದೆ ಸಿದ್ಧಹಸ್ತನಾದ ಕವಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸ್ಫುರಿಸಬಲ್ಲ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಹೊಳಹುಗಳು ಕೃತಿಯ ಮೌಲಿಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿವೆ. ಈ...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the fourth volume, some character sketches of the Dewans of Mysore preceded by an account of the political framework of the State before Independence and followed by a review of the political conditions of the State after 1940. These remarkable leaders of Mysore lived in a period that spans from the mid-nineteenth century to the...

Bharatiya Kavya-mimamseya Hinnele is a monograph on Indian Aesthetics by Mahamahopadhyaya N. Ranganatha Sharma. The book discusses the history and significance of concepts pivotal to Indian literary theory. It is equally useful to the learned and the laity.

Sahitya-samhite is a collection of literary essays in Kannada. The book discusses aestheticians such as Ananda-vardhana and Rajashekhara; Sanskrit scholars such as Mena Ramakrishna Bhat, Sridhar Bhaskar Varnekar and K S Arjunwadkar; and Kannada litterateurs such as DVG, S L Bhyrappa and S R Ramaswamy. It has a foreword by Shatavadhani Dr. R Ganesh.

The Mahābhārata is the greatest epic in the world both in magnitude and profundity. A veritable cultural compendium of Bhārata-varṣa, it is a product of the creative genius of Maharṣi Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa. The epic captures the experiential wisdom of our civilization and all subsequent literary, artistic, and philosophical creations are indebted to it. To read the Mahābhārata is to...

Shiva Rama Krishna

சிவன். ராமன். கிருஷ்ணன்.
இந்திய பாரம்பரியத்தின் முப்பெரும் கதாநாயகர்கள்.
உயர் இந்தியாவில் தலைமுறைகள் பல கடந்தும் கடவுளர்களாக போற்றப்பட்டு வழிகாட்டிகளாக விளங்குபவர்கள்.
மனித ஒற்றுமை நூற்றாண்டுகால பரிணாம வளர்ச்சியின் பரிமாணம்.
தனிநபர்களாகவும், குடும்ப உறுப்பினர்களாகவும், சமுதாய பிரஜைகளாகவும் நாம் அனைவரும் பரிமளிக்கிறோம்.
சிவன் தனிமனித அடையாளமாக அமைகிறான்....

ऋतुभिः सह कवयः सदैव सम्बद्धाः। विशिष्य संस्कृतकवयः। यथा हि ऋतवः प्रतिसंवत्सरं प्रतिनवतामावहन्ति मानवेषु तथैव ऋतुवर्णनान्यपि काव्यरसिकेषु कामपि विच्छित्तिमातन्वते। ऋतुकल्याणं हि सत्यमिदमेव हृदि कृत्वा प्रवृत्तम्। नगरजीवनस्य यान्त्रिकतां मान्त्रिकतां च ध्वनदिदं चम्पूकाव्यं गद्यपद्यमिश्रितमिति सुव्यक्तमेव। ऐदम्पूर्वतया प्रायः पुरीपरिसरप्रसृतानाम् ऋतूनां विलासोऽत्र प्रपञ्चितः। बेङ्गलूरुनामके...

The Art and Science of Avadhānam in Sanskrit is a definitive work on Sāhityāvadhānam, a form of Indian classical art based on multitasking, lateral thinking, and extempore versification. Dotted throughout with tasteful examples, it expounds in great detail on the theory and practice of this unique performing art. It is as much a handbook of performance as it is an anthology of well-turned...

This anthology is a revised edition of the author's 1978 classic. This series of essays, containing his original research in various fields, throws light on the socio-cultural landscape of Tamil Nadu spanning several centuries. These compelling episodes will appeal to scholars and laymen alike.
“When superstitious mediaevalists mislead the country about its judicial past, we have to...

The cultural history of a nation, unlike the customary mainstream history, has a larger time-frame and encompasses the timeless ethos of a society undergirding the course of events and vicissitudes. A major key to the understanding of a society’s unique character is an appreciation of the far-reaching contributions by outstanding personalities of certain periods – especially in the realms of...

Prekṣaṇīyam is an anthology of essays on Indian classical dance and theatre authored by multifaceted scholar and creative genius, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh. As a master of śāstra, a performing artiste (of the ancient art of Avadhānam), and a cultured rasika, he brings a unique, holistic perspective to every discussion. These essays deal with the philosophy, history, aesthetics, and practice of...

Yaugandharam

इदं किञ्चिद्यामलं काव्यं द्वयोः खण्डकाव्ययोः सङ्कलनरूपम्। रामानुरागानलं हि सीतापरित्यागाल्लक्ष्मणवियोगाच्च श्रीरामेणानुभूतं हृदयसङ्क्षोभं वर्णयति । वात्सल्यगोपालकं तु कदाचिद्भानूपरागसमये घटितं यशोदाश्रीकृष्णयोर्मेलनं वर्णयति । इदम्प्रथमतया संस्कृतसाहित्ये सम्पूर्णं काव्यं...

Vanitakavitotsavah

इदं खण्डकाव्यमान्तं मालिनीछन्दसोपनिबद्धं विलसति। मेनकाविश्वामित्रयोः समागमः, तत्फलतया शकुन्तलाया जननम्, मातापितृभ्यां त्यक्तस्य शिशोः कण्वमहर्षिणा परिपालनं चेति काव्यस्यास्येतिवृत्तसङ्क्षेपः।

Vaiphalyaphalam

इदं खण्डकाव्यमान्तं मालिनीछन्दसोपनिबद्धं विलसति। मेनकाविश्वामित्रयोः समागमः, तत्फलतया शकुन्तलाया जननम्, मातापितृभ्यां त्यक्तस्य शिशोः कण्वमहर्षिणा परिपालनं चेति काव्यस्यास्येतिवृत्तसङ्क्षेपः।

Nipunapraghunakam

इयं रचना दशसु रूपकेष्वन्यतमस्य भाणस्य निदर्शनतामुपैति। एकाङ्करूपकेऽस्मिन् शेखरकनामा चित्रोद्यमलेखकः केनापि हेतुना वियोगम् अनुभवतोश्चित्रलेखामिलिन्दकयोः समागमं सिसाधयिषुः कथामाकाशभाषणरूपेण निर्वहति।

Bharavatarastavah

अस्मिन् स्तोत्रकाव्ये भगवन्तं शिवं कविरभिष्टौति। वसन्ततिलकयोपनिबद्धस्य काव्यस्यास्य कविकृतम् उल्लाघनाभिधं व्याख्यानं च वर्तते।

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the third volume, some character sketches of great literary savants responsible for Kannada renaissance during the first half of the twentieth century. These remarkable...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the second volume, episodes from the lives of remarkable exponents of classical music and dance, traditional storytellers, thespians, and connoisseurs; as well as his...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the first volume, episodes from the lives of great writers, poets, literary aficionados, exemplars of public life, literary scholars, noble-hearted common folk, advocates...

Evolution of Mahabharata and Other Writings on the Epic is the English translation of S R Ramaswamy's 1972 Kannada classic 'Mahabharatada Belavanige' along with seven of his essays on the great epic. It tells the riveting...

Shiva-Rama-Krishna is an English adaptation of Śatāvadhāni Dr. R Ganesh's popular lecture series on the three great...

Bharatilochana

ಮಹಾಮಾಹೇಶ್ವರ ಅಭಿನವಗುಪ್ತ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ವಿದ್ಯಾವಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮರೆಯಲಾಗದ ಹೆಸರು. ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಶೈವದರ್ಶನ ಮತ್ತು ಸೌಂದರ್ಯಮೀಮಾಂಸೆಗಳ ಪರಮಾಚಾರ್ಯನಾಗಿ  ಸಾವಿರ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಇವನು ಜ್ಞಾನಪ್ರಪಂಚವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಭಾವಿಸುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದ್ದಾನೆ. ಭರತಮುನಿಯ ನಾಟ್ಯಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಇವನೊಬ್ಬನೇ ನಮಗಿರುವ ಆಲಂಬನ. ಇದೇ ರೀತಿ ರಸಧ್ವನಿಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತವನ್ನು...

Vagarthavismayasvadah

“वागर्थविस्मयास्वादः” प्रमुखतया साहित्यशास्त्रतत्त्वानि विमृशति । अत्र सौन्दर्यर्यशास्त्रीयमूलतत्त्वानि यथा रस-ध्वनि-वक्रता-औचित्यादीनि सुनिपुणं परामृष्टानि प्रतिनवे चिकित्सकप्रज्ञाप्रकाशे। तदन्तर एव संस्कृतवाङ्मयस्य सामर्थ्यसमाविष्कारोऽपि विहितः। क्वचिदिव च्छन्दोमीमांसा च...

The Best of Hiriyanna

The Best of Hiriyanna is a collection of forty-eight essays by Prof. M. Hiriyanna that sheds new light on Sanskrit Literature, Indian...

Stories Behind Verses

Stories Behind Verses is a remarkable collection of over a hundred anecdotes, each of which captures a story behind the composition of a Sanskrit verse. Collected over several years from...