APPAYYA DKITA'S CONTRIBUTION TO DARANAS

K.S. Balasubramanian Dy. Director The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute, Mylapore, Chennai -4.

Appayya Dkita (AD), is one of the most celebrated poet philosophers of our country. Like akarabhagavadp da and ri Vednta deika, to name only a few, AD is credited with the authorship of more than hundred independent texts. Although opinion is divided among scholars regarding his date, it is generally accepted that he lived in the 16th cent. A.D. AD was certainly one of the most prolific writers and his command over the language, his philosophical insight, intellectual acumen, devotion to God, especially lord iva and deep quest for the eternal Truth made him produce more than one hundred original texts and few commentaries too. Scholars have tried to project the list of books written by AD. According to N.C.C. (Vol. I) 1, AD has written 104 books. V.A.
1

New Catalogus Catalogoram (Vol.I Rev.) Department of Sanskrit, University of Madras, 1969, pp.263-66.

Ramaswami Sastri attributes 108 to books to him.2 Prof. R. Thangaswami Sarma enumerates 111 (one hundred and eleven) books written by A.D.3 It may also be noted that other texts not mentioned in these lists are also attributed to AD. For example, Lakaaratnvali, a hitherto unknown text of AD has been brought to light by T.R. Chintramai 4. AD's proficiency in all branches of knowledge can be ascertained from the fact that he had written on various subjects like Daranas, epics, Vykaraa, Stotras and so on. Among the books on Daranas by AD, there are texts on Advaita, Dvaita, Viidvaita, ivdvaita, Prvammms, and general philosophical works. It is curious to know that a text called Yogamrta, probably on Yoga is ascribed to him.5 In this paper, owing to the constraint of space and time, only a glimpse of the books on Advaita and Prvamimams by AD are given. 1. (stra) Siddhntalea Sagraha (SLS) This is an elaborate and an original treatise written by AD. He brings out all different dialectical views in Advaita School of philosophy. For example, the ekajva-vda, nn jva-vda, bimba-pratibimba vda (avicchinna vda), s
2 3

4 5

Tattvabindu (Introduction), Annamalai University,1935, pp.102. Advaita Vedanta literature -A Bibliographical Survey, University of Madras, 1980, pp. 276-78. Journal of Oriental Research IV., pp.242-44. R. Thangaswami, op.cit. p.277. This text is not mentioned in the list of AD's books, in NCC Vol. I and also by Dr. N. Ramesan in his r Appayya Dkita, Hyderabad, 1972. 2

kitva vda etc. are discussed by A.D. He says that all the cryas agree in affirming the oneness of the Self and the unreality of this phenomenal world. For the world of fiction, different explanations are given according to the ingenuity of each crya and hence one cannot find any blemish in this, says A.D. Prof. Thangaswami Sarma tries to establish the greatness of this text by pointing out that there have been many commentaries on this text by great cryas like Acyuta Knanda (Klakra), Rghavnanda (Siddh nta kaumudi), Rmacandra Pjyapda (Siddhnta sktimajari), Vivantha (Vykhy) - and Vsudeva brahma ( ... Sagrahasra). Prof. S.N. Dasgupta adds two more to this list of commentary on SLS.6 According to Prof. P.P.S. Sastri, there is a commentary by Madhusdana Sarasvati on SLS in Tanjore Sarasvati Mahal Library.7 2. Nyyarakmai : This is also known as rrakanyyarakmai. It is in the form of Brahmastravtti. only up to the first adhyya. It contains wonderful original arguments, both for Prvapaka and siddhnta under each adhikaraa
6

It follows akara's bhya

and Bhamat. This commentary on Brahmastra is available

where

History of Indian Philosophy, S.N. Dasgupta, Vol. II. p. 220, MLBD, 1925. 7 Tanjore Sarasvati Mahal Library Vol. XII. No.7535. 3

many 3.

Mimms-nyyas

are

stated

in

support

of

the

arguments. Parimala On akara's rirakabhya, Vcaspati Mira wrote a commentary which is universally well known as Bhamat. Amalnanda wrote a commentary on this, called Kalpataru in a terse style. AD wrote a commentary on Kalpataru, called Parimala : It is stated that the great preceptor Nsimhasvmi asked AD to write a commentary on Brahmastra reminding him that he (AD) belonged to a great family of scholars in Advaita. AD himself acknowledges this is the beginning of his Parimala "" Jw{^n{X>_W

{d_V_{n

~mo{YV mk:& Adb` {ed_Yr`Z `mH$amo{_ H$nV_ &&

`Wm_{V

The great Mannargudi Rju stri in his Dkita Vam bharaa says that AD's Kalpataruvykhy (Parimala) has been praised thus:

""`XwhoZmn``dZm M ^y_mH $Vm H$nVamo: {V>m & EHo$Z Vw mna_m{lVoZ naoU Vdn{VnmXHo$Z &&
It is stated here that while lord Ka brought down Kalpataru from heavens to earth (to satisfy his consort), r

AD established it firmly by writing a commentary on it. But the difference is, the act of the former is doubtful, whereas the latter's book clears all doubt. Here the word dvpara is used as a pun. It means dvpara yuga while taking of lord Ka and also doubt. According to Amarakoa (I.5.3), the words Vicikits, Samaya, Sandeha and Dvpara synonyms. 4. Madhvatantramukhamardanam (and com. Vidhvamsana) This is a critique of Madhva's Dvaita school of philosophy. 5. Nayamajar This forms part of his famous work Caturmatas rasagraha (CMSS). This is composed in verse form, explaining each adhikaraa of Brahmastra, both from the point of view of Prvapakin and siddhntin. The most remarkable aspect of this book is that the 380 verses have been composed in 182 Vttas, many of which are rare. It may be pointed out the that CMSS is a unique text. It gives a clear view of the tenets of four schools of thought. The first part is named as Nyyamuktvali and explains the views of Dvaita school; the second Nayamaykhamlik is on Viidvaita; the third is Nayamaiml which expands the view of rikaha's ivdvaita and the fourth is Nayamajari on Advaita.
8

are

WmUwdm nwfmo do{V m njm nam YmZ^yVm Ap_Z B{V mna: &

Ligayasri while commenting on the word dvpara says:

6.

Vdanakatraml

or

Prvottarammsv

danakatraml: This is a unique text having 27 Vdas, divided into two sections. The first section in 8 passages, gives the views of Prvapaka and Siddhnta pertaining to the Prva Mmms school, while the latter part containing 19 passages gives answers to the Prvapaka views on akara's bhya. Although it is clear from his writings that he was equally at home in all branches of knowledge, he says that he is a follower of Advaita school only. In ivrkamaidpik says: he

``V {Z>m gmH$ Vd

Ed

lw{V {eIa{Jam_mJ_mZm nwamU:

gd:

_{V{ZH$a ^mpV n[aOJho

_hm^maVm{X n~Y: & ~gym`{n ZamMm`aZa{n e>amVXod &&

and in Caturmatasrasagraha he says,

{d_eVm

{ZlmpV_pV

AmZXVrW_w{Zb_UXo{eHo$ lrH$R>`mo{Jnadra Xdr`grZ: &

AmMm`nmXga{U

M {d{d` ~mow

gJVo _VMVw>` gmaboe: &&

Now let us see his works on Prva Mmms. AD has written eight texts exclusively on Prva Mmms to elucidate specific problems. A short note on each of them is given here. 1. Citrapaa:9 This is a short atreatise in 388 Anuub verses and gives in a simple and straightforward manner, the siddh ntas of Jaimini. 907 adhikaraas of the Prva Mmms system of T.R. Cintamani, most the editor, the adds teacher that of probably

Uttamalokatrtha,

Svayamprakayati, calls this work laghuvrttika and has commented upon this in his Laghunyyasudh. 2. Prvammms viayasagrahadpik According to the editor, this is
10

short

work

summarising in a brief and terse manner, the contents of the twelve adhyyas of Jaimini's Prvammmsstras, drawing particular attention to some of the fundamental doctrines of the system. It is in prose. The authenticity of this work by AD is ascertained from reference to his another important work. viz. Vidhirasyana.

Critical edn. by T.R. Chintamani, Supplement to the Journal of Oriental Research Vol. VIII., Madras, 1934. 10 Critical edn. by T.R. Chintamani, and T.V. Ramachandra Dikshitar Journal of Oriental Research Vol. IX. Pp. 321-34.
9

""VWm n#moZ

gm{YV__m{^: {d{Yagm`Zo

&''
The colophon of the text, as found in the manuscript at GOML, Chennai. (R-1321) reads: "" B{V Y__r_mgm gmagh`m`m

n{a^mfm nyd_r_mgm {df`gh Xr{nH$m An`Xr{jVH$Vm && ''

On the other hand, the manuscript available at Tanjore Saraswati Mahal Library is styled ""

mXebj`m

AWgL>jon: '' and does not give the name of the author.
But the editors conclude that the former name is popular and there is no doubt that it is the work of the celebrated writer AD.11 3. 4. Prvottarammmsvdanakatraml (or) Nakatrav Maykhvali : This is a commentary on the work stra dpik of Prthasrathi Mira. (unpublished) dvali : Already described.

5.

Dharmammms paribh According to NCC (vol.IX. p.258) Prof. R. Thangaswami

12

Sarma
11 12

and

op.cit. p. 320. op.cit. p. 277. 8

N. Ramesan this is a separate work by AD.13 6. Vidhirasyana with his own commentary Sukhopayojin This is one of the most important texts in Mmms s stra where the three vidhis (Aprva, Niyama and Parisakhy vidhis) given by Kumrila Bhaa and the examples given by him are objected by AD. He also gives suitable examples to prove his claims. This contains 42 stanzas which are in a terse style and the commentary on them in lucid style. Vidhirasyana created a stir among the Mmmsakas and created ripples as it were, with the result that plenty of scholars started writing criticisms on this text (Khaana), and counter criticisms (maana) were written on those texts, supporting the views of Appayya Dkita. The objections raised by AD against Kumrila were met with by akarabhaa in his in his Vidhirasyanadaa, Nryaa (also Vekaanryaa Vidhibhaa,

known as Nyanrya) in his Vidhicamatkracandrik, Kolluri Nryaa stri in his Vidhidarpaa and Vidhitrayaparitra of Vekadhvarin.14 Also, caryas like Khaadeva, Soman tha, Anantadeva and ambhubhaa15 criticised the views of AD.

op.cit. p. 110. Ms. S. Annapurna's Ph.D. thesis is a critical study of this text, under the guidance of Dr. V. Kameswari, Director, The K.S.R.I. and was submitted to University of Madras in 2009. 15 The late Dr. J. Venkataraman, an erudite Mmms scholar was awarded Ph.D. (Vidyvridhi) by the Rashtriya Sanskrit Samsthan, New Delhi. This was done at the K.S.R.I.
13 14

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Among those who upheld the views of AD, mention may be made of rnivsadsa in his Vidhiratnvali, Durhaik (also known as Vidhirasyanadaoddhra) of Appayya Dikita - II and Vidhiviveka of Rmasvmisri. AD says that his intention was to expand the views of Bha school: ""`Hw$_m[ab_VmZwgm[aUm

{d{Yagm`Z _`m & n $n_Z{V \w$Q>me` VgwImdJV`o {d{d`Vo && ''

7. Upakramaparkrama
16

{Z{_V

In the introductory verse itself, AD says that the purpose of writing this book is to reiterate the importance of upakrama over upasamhra.

CnH$_` ~b_y{Mao ``monghma {damo{YZmo ~wYm & {V{>Vm Vm{_h VH$gVqV ~moY`m_: {VHy$bOpnVmZ &&
Vysarja and other Dvaita cryas highlighted the importance of upasamhra over upakrama. AD, without specifically mentioning the opponents of his theory, tries to uphold the greatness of upakrama. The uniqueness of this text lies in the fact that there has been no independent text dealing with concepts like upakrama and that too in the Prva Mmms system.
Mr.P.K. Bhaskaran, research scholar of the K.S.R.I. was awarded M.Phil. degree for a critical study of this text by the University of Madras in 1991.
16

10

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8.

Atidealakaapunrkepa According to NCC Vol. I, this is ascribed to Appayya

Dkita III. But T.R. Cintamani in his introduction to Citrapaa

17

includes this as one of the works of AD. earned him

AD's immense contribution to Mmms msakamrdhanya''.

the respect from Khaadeva, who referred to him as ""Mm ""Prof. V.A. Ramaswami Sastri, editor of Tattvabindu says about AD. In some of his dialectical dissertations, he has revealed certain truths which no other author on Mm ms stra, probably except Kumrila, has so assiduously cared to investigate.'' He adds, ""So, as a Mmmsaka, he is in his best in his Advaita and other works''. Conclusion: Only some well known texts of AD in Advaita Vednta and Prva Mmms have been mentioned in this paper. aivism, Let me While one reads the list of his books in other branches of literature like Kvya, Alakra, Naka, (drama) express any word of eulogy on this great crya. add, Vaishnavism, Stotra literature and so on, one is at a loss to

gdVmo_wInm{S>`_ An`m`` gamo: & Q>m lwdm d` VYm:

_Zw`mo@`_wVoa: &&
17

Op. cit. 11

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I may also add that the Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute has published some of his Mmms texts and published articles on him in the Journal of Oriental Research. Also, among the three Post-graduate research dissertations (2 Ph.D. & one M.Phil on Mmms) submitted through the Institute, one is exclusively on Appayya Dkita's work.

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