Vedesa Tirtha Explained
Vedesha Tirtha (-) (also known as Vedesha Bhiksu also spelles as Vedesha Bikshu), was an Indian Hindu scholar and theologian in the Dvaita Vedānta tradition. He was the disciple of Raghuttama Tirtha, and is the most celebrated name in the annals of the Dvaita Vedanta. He is a Bidi-Sanyasi (stray ascetic) and not pontiff of any matha (monastery).
Early life
Vedesa was born in 1570 CE in a pious Kannada-speaking Deshastha Brahmin family in present day North Karnataka region. He studied under the guidance of Raghuttama Tirtha and was his disciple. He wrote many commentaries on the Upanishads and other prominent works. He died in 1620 and his tomb is enshrined in Manur in present day North Karnataka, where he studied all shastras under Raghuttama Tirtha Mahaswamiji.[1]
Works
Vedesha Bhiksu composed ten major works, most of them are commentaries and glosses on the works of Madhva and Jayatirtha.
- Tattvoddyota Panchika - a gloss on Tattvoddyota of Madhva
- Pramāṇalakṣaṇaṭikā Vyakhyana - a gloss on Pramāṇalakṣaṇaṭikā of Jayatirtha
- Viṣṇutattvanirṇayaṭikā Vyakhyana - a gloss on Viṣṇutattvanirṇayaṭikā of Jayatirtha
- Kathālakṣaṇavivarana Vyakhyana - a gloss on Kathālakṣaṇavivarana of Jayatirtha.
- Karmaṅirṅayaṭikā Vyakhyana - a gloss on Karmaṅirṅayaṭikā of Jayatirtha.
- Aitareya Upanishad Bhashya - a commentary on Aitareya Upanishad Bhashya of Madhva
- Chandogya Upanishad Bhashya - a commentary on Chandogya Upanishad Bhashya of Madhva
- Katha Upanishad Bhashya - a commentary on Katha Upanishad Bhashya of Madhva
- Talabavara tippani - a commentary on Kena Upanishad Bhashya of Madhva.
- Pramāṇapaddhatī Vyakhyana - a gloss on Pramāṇapaddhatī of Jayatirtha
Brindavana
His tomb is at Manur on the bank of Bhima river, which was a center of learning right from the days of predecessors of Raghuttama Tirtha himself.
Bibliography
- Book: Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti. A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature, Vol 1. 3rd Edition. Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint) . 978-8120815759. 2000 .
- Book: Potter, Karl H.. Encyclopedia of Indian philosophies. 1, Bibliography : Section 1, Volumes 1-2. Motilal Banarsidass Publications. 1995 . 978-8120803084.
- Book: Dasgupta, Surendranath. A History of Indian Philosophy, Volume 4. Motilal Banarsidass. 1975. 978-8120804159.
Notes and References
- Book: New Indian Antiquary Volume 3. Karnataka Publishing House. 292. The epithet Bhiksu taken up by him shows that he was a Sannyasin. Like his teacher Raghuttama and Vedavyāsa, he too was doubtless a Kannada-speaking Desastha Brahmin. He lies entombed at Manür, where Raghuttama himself and his predecessors are known to have prosecuted their studies earlier..
