Essay name: Sankalpa Suryodaya of Venkatanatha (Critical Study)
Author:
R. Laxmi
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study of the Sankalpa Suryodaya—an allegorical Sanskrit drama by Venkatanatha, a distinguished philosopher-poet and dramatist of the Vishishtadvaita Vedanta tradition. This work of Venkata-natha (or, Vedanta Deshika). stands out for integrating allegory to convey moral and philosophical truths. The thesis examines its place in Sanskrit literature.
Chapter 5 - Philosophical doctrines
10 (of 28)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Lord Visṇu should give up all the rituals intended to secure worldly desires, and
should perform all rituals Nitya and Naimittika. Therefore, all good men consider
that former portion of the Vedas dealing with Karma Mīmāṃså, and the latter
portion of the Vedas dealing with Brahmamimāṃså form a single Sästra. This is all
the view of Mimämsä school of Kumārilabhaṭṭa is silence.
Besides, other schools like Pāśupata Prabhākara, Bhāskara and
Yadavaprakāśa have been just named and said that their views are not valid. In this
manner, the rival schools of Säṅkhya Yogas, Vaiseṣikas, Bauddhas, Janis,
Advaitins, Mīmāṃsakas etc. have been referred together with mentioning their
important tenets, then those tenets are refuted and showed meaningless.
On the otherhand, Venkaṭanātha has reflected the ideals of Pāncarātra
school, one of the branches of Śrīvaiṣṇava religion.
It however appears that Venkaṭanātha has brought in here the philosophy of
Pāncarātra Āgamas which are regarded as valid as Vedic texts, to synthesise the
teachings of both Tengalai and Vaḍagalai sects of Śrīvaiṣṇava religion.
As is found in the literature of Śrivaiṣṇavism, Vaḍagalai section has all sastric
texts including Pāncarātra Āgama as its basis; while Tengalai sect has Dravidian
Samhitas written in Tamil as the basis of its religion. Belonging to the Vaḍagalai
sect, Venkaṭanātha has made many efforts to unite both the sects showing the
integration of the philosophical thoughts and the themes of the rituals. It is for this
reason, that Venkaṭanātha has explained the teachings of Pāncarātra Āgama as a
separate section though it is part and parcel of Visiṣṭādvaita Vedānta. 16a
As given in the drama, this Pāncarātra Śästra is composed by Vyāsa, as
being valid as conferring glory, as holy and as being extremely beneficial. This is
composed by him for the benefit of the devotees. Therefore, this Sästra is faultless
16a.
For further details see Krishnaiengar D., Sri Deśika Sambhāvana, Seventh Century Celebrations
Committee of Sri Venkatesha Sabha, Mysore, 1968, p.4
