Gangadhara Vajapeyi
Encyclopedia
Gangadhara Vajapeyi was a great vedic sacrifice
r (vajapeya yaji - one who has performed the Vajapeya yaga) of the Krishna Yajurveda from Thiruvalangadu in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu
.
He was son of Devasimha Bhatta and disciple of Visvarupa. He was a Smarta brahmin
belonging to the Vadhula gotra.
He was an expert in Nyaya
and Tarka Shastra. He was asthana vidwan at the court of Maratha
king Serfoji I
of Tanjore. He had performed the Vajapeya sacrifice presided by the Maratha king Serfoji.
Most importantly - he is remembered as the guru of Bhaskararaya
- one of the greatest shrauta sacrificers and exponents of the tantra
of recent times. Bhaskararaya acquired knowledge of the nyAya darShaNa (Tarka Shastra) from gangadhara vAjapeyI
. Bhaskararaya was one of the foremost Srividya upasaka. Bhaskararaya's commentary on the lalitA-sahasranAma (bhashya
) and his commentary on the SrI vidyA mantra
are most well known.
He is also referred as Gangadhara Adhvari or Gangadhara Suri.
viz: Rasikaranjani. He also wrote Kanada Siddhantachandrika (on Vaisesika).
He also wrote Avaidika darsana samgraha. The work was very popular in South India and is considered to be an important source book on Buddha
-Jaina
fundamentals next to Sarvadarsana-samgraha of Madhava aka Vidyaranya
.
As Bhaskararaya's Guru
Historical Vedic religion
The religion of the Vedic period is a historical predecessor of Hinduism. Its liturgy is reflected in the mantra portion of the four Vedas, which are compiled in Sanskrit. The religious practices centered on a clergy administering rites...
r (vajapeya yaji - one who has performed the Vajapeya yaga) of the Krishna Yajurveda from Thiruvalangadu in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
.
He was son of Devasimha Bhatta and disciple of Visvarupa. He was a Smarta brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
belonging to the Vadhula gotra.
He was an expert in Nyaya
Nyaya
' is the name given to one of the six orthodox or astika schools of Hindu philosophy—specifically the school of logic...
and Tarka Shastra. He was asthana vidwan at the court of Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
king Serfoji I
Serfoji I
Serfoji I , also called Sarabhoji I, was the son of the Maratha ruler of Thanjavur Ekoji I and the Raja of Thanjavur from 1712 to 1728. He was the third Raja of the Bhonsle dynasty. He consolidated the hold of Marathas over Thanjavur and patronised arts and literature.- The Marava War of...
of Tanjore. He had performed the Vajapeya sacrifice presided by the Maratha king Serfoji.
Most importantly - he is remembered as the guru of Bhaskararaya
Bhaskararaya
Bhaskararaya is widely considered an authority on all questions pertaining to the worship of the Mother Goddess in Hinduism. The worship of Shakti involves many hidden meanings of mantras and coded passages. It is said that these meanings were revealed to Bhaskararaya by the Goddess Herself...
- one of the greatest shrauta sacrificers and exponents of the tantra
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
of recent times. Bhaskararaya acquired knowledge of the nyAya darShaNa (Tarka Shastra) from gangadhara vAjapeyI
Gangadhara Vajapeyi
Gangadhara Vajapeyi was a great vedic sacrificer of the Krishna Yajurveda from Thiruvalangadu in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu....
. Bhaskararaya was one of the foremost Srividya upasaka. Bhaskararaya's commentary on the lalitA-sahasranAma (bhashya
Bhashya
Bhashya - It is especially used with reference to a text or religious work.A typical Bhashya would be an interpretation of a Sutra or other classical work...
) and his commentary on the SrI vidyA mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
are most well known.
He is also referred as Gangadhara Adhvari or Gangadhara Suri.
Gangadhara Vajapeyi's Works
He wrote a rare commentary on Kuvalayananda (a book on alankara shastra) of Appayya DikshitarAppayya Dikshitar
Appayya Dikshita , 1520–1593 CE, was a performer of yajñas as well as an expositor and practitioner of the Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy but however, with a focus on Shiva or Siva Advaita.-Life:...
viz: Rasikaranjani. He also wrote Kanada Siddhantachandrika (on Vaisesika).
He also wrote Avaidika darsana samgraha. The work was very popular in South India and is considered to be an important source book on Buddha
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
-Jaina
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
fundamentals next to Sarvadarsana-samgraha of Madhava aka Vidyaranya
Vidyaranya
' is variously known as being a kingmaker, patron saint and high priest to Harihara Raya I and Bukka Raya I, the founders of the Vijayanagar Empire. He was the 12th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham from 1380 to 1386 A.D. He was born to and in in 1268 CE. Another account has it that he...
.
External links
His Books- kanada Siddhantachandrika
- devasimha sumati
- Titles of primary texts
- Names of persons
- Avaidika darsana samgrah
- Avaidika darsana samgraha
- Avaidika Darsana Sangraha - Vani Vilasa Mudralaya
- Reference to Rasika-ranjani
As Bhaskararaya's Guru