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 1 - Date, life and works of Venkatanatha
7 (of 26)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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7 1
. Manuals of Śrīvaiṣṇava Religion and Esotericism,
II.
Theses on Śrīvaiṣṇava Theology and Ritualism,
III. Devotional and Didactic Poetry,
IV.
Literary Works,
V.
Original Philosophical Treatises,
VI.
Commentaries.
The works of Venkaṭanātha coming under these heads are more than one
hundred in number. An attempt is made here to give in brief, the outlines of these
works. 14
I. Manuals of Śrīvaiṣṇava Religion and Esotericism :
Venkaṭanātha's manuals are marked with two objectives - spreading the
ideas and ideals of Śrīvaiṣṇavism and preservation of Religion and Philosophy
of the Ālvārs and the Acāryas.
1. Nyāsadaśakam: This is a
short poem consisting of ten significant
verses in Anuṣṭub metre dealing with the doctrine of Prapatti or self-surrender
unto the Supreme Deity, Varadarāja of Kāñci.
2. Nyāsavimśati : This is another work on Nyåsa or Prapatti which is a
means to God realisation. It runs into twenty verses touching one after the other,
upon pre-requisites, the essentials and the consummation of Nyāsa or Prapatti.
This work is commented upon by himself, and Śrinivāsa too. Another commentary
upon it by Naḍādur Venkaṭarāmācārya in Maṇipravala language is available.
3. Vairāgyapañcaka�: As the title of the work itself indicates, this work
speaks of five kinds of complete indifference to the worldly objects. The five
14.
Note: The details of each of the works have been taken from Satyavrata Singh's Work,
Vedanta Deśika: His Life Works and Philosophy - A Study.
