Short notes on the impact of Sanskrit over the Vijayanagar rulers

Sanskrit studies received a great impetus under the patronage of the Vijayanagar rulers. The great scholar Sayanacharya during the 14th century wrote bhasyas on Rig Veda Samhita, Taittiriya Samhita, Kanva Samhita, Taittiriya Brahmana, Satpatha Brahmana, and Aitarreyaranyaka, Sayana will be remembered by the posterity for his interpretation of the Vedic texts.

Vyasarya (A.D. 1478-A.D. 1539) was another great Sanskrit scholar who flourished under the patronage of Krishnadevaraya. Most of his works were devoted to Davita philosophy. Bhatta Akalankedva, a Jain Pandit wrote a grammar of Kannada in Sanskrit along with a commentary.

Vedanta Desika (1268-1368), a versatile scholar, wrote a number of works in Sanskrit. Most important of them are, Yadavabhyudayam, a long poem on the life of Lord Krishna, Hansa Sandesa, on the model of Kalidas’s Meghaduta, Sankalpa Suryodaya and Subhasita Nivi.

Madhavacharya was a well-known Sanskrit scholar who was intimately connected with the Vijayanagar’s royal family. He was also minister at the court of Bukka I. He was author of a large number of works including Parasarasmriti- Vyakhya, Jivanmuktiviveka (on Advaita Vedanta) and Joiminiyanya Yamalavistara.

Harihara minister, Irugappa Dandadhnatha, was a scholar of repute. His lexicon Nanartharatnamala is well known. Gangadevi, wife of Kampana, son of Bukka, deserves a pre-eminent place among the writers of the age. In her famous work ” Maduravijayam”, she describes in mahakavya style the conquest of Madura by her husband.

Deva Raya II is credited with the writing of Ratiratnadipika and Brahmasutravrtti. Saluva Narasimha was the author Ramabhyudayam. Krishnadevaraya’s Sanskrit works include Madalsacharitra, Satyavadhuprnanam, Sakalkanthasara Sangraham, and Rasmanjari. The Prime Minister, Saluva Timma, was the author of Bala Bharata Vyakhya.

Lolla Laksmidhara was the author of several works including an encyclopaedia ‘Divajnavilasa’. Rajanatha Dindima was the court poet during the reign of Achyutaraya. Mohanangi also identified with the wife of Rama Raja composed the love poem Marchiparinayam.

The most important scholar at the court of Venkata was Tatacharya. His famous works were Pandurangamahatmya and Satvika Brahma Vidya Vilasa. Appayya Diksita wrote 101 works. His celebrated work Sivarkomanidipika shows his mastery over whole Sanskrit literature.

Vadiraja who flourished during the 16th century is credited with 20 works including Vivarnavranam, and Pasandakhandanam. Raghunatha Nayaka wrote Parijatapaharanam which deals with the life of Lord Krishna.

Vyasaraya (1552-1624) was the author of several works of Dvaita philospophy and was patronized by Krishnadevaraya. Religious literature also flowed from the monasteries of Sringeri, Melkote and Udidi.

A rare work of polity Akasabhairavakalpa, probably written by some politician or a minister of Vijayanagar, throwing light on the daily life of the rulers of Vijayanagar, the ministers as well as the life in the capital has survived the vicissitudes of times. It is an anonymous work.

Lakshmidhara’s Bharatsastrasangraha and Lakshminarayana’s Sangitasuryodaya are works on music produced during the 16th centrury. Among other works on the same subject, we may mention, Gopendra Tippa Bhupala’s Taladipikia and Chatura Kallinatha’s commentary on Sangitaratnakara.

Rajanatha II composed a historical poem in A.D. 1480 in praise of Saluva Narasimha, a noble in the court of Vijayanagar. Another historical poem Achyutarayabhyudaya was composed by the poet Rajanatha III. Vallinatha, a poet wrote a play Madanamanjarimahotsava in the regin of Achytaraya (A.D. 1577-A.D. 1614). Krishnadevaraya was himself a playwright. He wrote a drama Usparinaya which described the marriage of Usha with Aniruddha.