Neelakantha Chaturdhara (Sanskrit: नीलकण्ठ चतुर्धर, IAST: Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara) (also referred as Neelakantha Chaturdhar) was a scholar who lived in Varanasi in the later half of the 17th century, famous for his commentary on the Mahabharata.[1]
As with most scholars of pre-modern India, little is known of his life. He was from a Marathi-speaking Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin family[2] that had been established in a town on the banks of the river Godavari. He moved to Varanasi, where he studied "Veda and Vedanga, Mimamsa, Srauta, Yoga, Saiva texts, Tarka, and especially Advaita Vedanta" from several teachers, before beginning his literary career.[3] His teachers and mentors at Varanasi, which was then a hub of śāstric learning,[1] included his guru referred to him as Lakṣmaṇārya, and Nārāyaṇa Tīrtha.[1] His Vedanta writings were influenced by Madhusūdana Sarasvatī, Nṛsiṃhāśrama, and Appayya Dīkṣita.[1] Nilakantha had also composed a commentary on the Devi Bhagavata Purana
Mahabharata commentaryedit
MAHABHARATA with Bhāratabhāvadīpa by Nilakantha Chaturdhara
His commentary, Bhāratabhāvadīpa, is the only one that is widely used in Sanskrit studies today.[4][5] His commentary was from the viewpoint of Advaita Vedānta.[1]
The first English-language translation of the Mahabharata, by the scholarly Kisari Mohan Ganguli, acknowledges the influence of Nilakantha's commentary.[6] The Clay Sanskrit Library's project of translating the Mahabharata used the version known to Nilakantha rather than the critical edition.[7]
In the recent past, he "has been maligned without warrant" by modern scholars, but his "understandings underlie more than a little of what is in the English language renderings of the epic."[8]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeMinkowski, Nīlakaṇṭha and the Vedāntic ‘Scene’ in Banaras
^Krzysztof Iwanek (13 May 2022). Endless Siege Education and Nationalism in Vidya Bharati Schools. Oxford University Press. p. 246. ISBN9780192689283. Nilakantha Chaturdhara was a 17th- century Deshastha Brahman, famous for writing a Sanskrit commentary on Mahabharata, Bhāratabhāvadīpa.
^Christopher Minkowski, Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara's Mantrakāśīkhaṇḍa, The Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol 122, No 2 (April 2002), pp. 329–344 doi:10.2307/3087628 JSTOR 3087628
Nilakantha’s Mahābhārata by Christopher Minkowski, India Seminar No. 608 (April 2010).
External linksedit
Media related to Neelakantha Chaturdhara at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
neelakantha, chaturdhara, sanskrit, लकण, चत, धर, iast, nīlakaṇṭha, caturdhara, also, referred, neelakantha, chaturdhar, scholar, lived, varanasi, later, half, 17th, century, famous, commentary, mahabharata, contents, life, mahabharata, commentary, references, . Neelakantha Chaturdhara Sanskrit न लकण ठ चत र धर IAST Nilakaṇṭha Caturdhara also referred as Neelakantha Chaturdhar was a scholar who lived in Varanasi in the later half of the 17th century famous for his commentary on the Mahabharata 1 Contents 1 Life 2 Mahabharata commentary 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife editAs with most scholars of pre modern India little is known of his life He was from a Marathi speaking Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin family 2 that had been established in a town on the banks of the river Godavari He moved to Varanasi where he studied Veda and Vedanga Mimamsa Srauta Yoga Saiva texts Tarka and especially Advaita Vedanta from several teachers before beginning his literary career 3 His teachers and mentors at Varanasi which was then a hub of sastric learning 1 included his guru referred to him as Lakṣmaṇarya and Narayaṇa Tirtha 1 His Vedanta writings were influenced by Madhusudana Sarasvati Nṛsiṃhasrama and Appayya Dikṣita 1 Nilakantha had also composed a commentary on the Devi Bhagavata PuranaMahabharata commentary edit nbsp MAHABHARATA with Bharatabhavadipa by Nilakantha Chaturdhara His commentary Bharatabhavadipa is the only one that is widely used in Sanskrit studies today 4 5 His commentary was from the viewpoint of Advaita Vedanta 1 The first English language translation of the Mahabharata by the scholarly Kisari Mohan Ganguli acknowledges the influence of Nilakantha s commentary 6 The Clay Sanskrit Library s project of translating the Mahabharata used the version known to Nilakantha rather than the critical edition 7 In the recent past he has been maligned without warrant by modern scholars but his understandings underlie more than a little of what is in the English language renderings of the epic 8 References edit a b c d e Minkowski Nilakaṇṭha and the Vedantic Scene in Banaras Krzysztof Iwanek 13 May 2022 Endless Siege Education and Nationalism in Vidya Bharati Schools Oxford University Press p 246 ISBN 9780192689283 Nilakantha Chaturdhara was a 17th century Deshastha Brahman famous for writing a Sanskrit commentary on Mahabharata Bharatabhavadipa Christopher Minkowski Nilakaṇṭha Caturdhara s Mantrakasikhaṇḍa The Journal of the American Oriental Society Vol 122 No 2 April 2002 pp 329 344 doi 10 2307 3087628 JSTOR 3087628 Minkowski 2010 Christopher Minkowski On the Success of Nilakantha s Commentary Abstract Translator s Preface Clay Sanskrit Library FAQ James L Fitzgerald BibliographyFurther reading editNilakantha s Mahabharata by Christopher Minkowski India Seminar No 608 April 2010 External links edit nbsp Media related to Neelakantha Chaturdhara at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neelakantha Chaturdhara amp oldid 1140822401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
