The Mangala Verse of the Nyayasiddhanta-muktavali
By Swera Prajapati
Summary
In this paper Sweta Prajapati examines the mangala (benedictory) verse that opens Visvanatha Nyayapanchanana’s 17th‑century Nyayasiddhanta‑muktavali, a condensed exposition of the Navya‑Nyāya school of logic. She juxtaposes this verse with a later commentary by Ramarudra Bhattacarya and argues that their exchange illuminates the interdisciplinary nature of Sanskrit scholarship. The mangala verse invokes Bhava (Śiva) as master of the cosmic dance and, according to Ramarudra, contains a poetic flaw (doṣa) known in Alamkaraśāstra as arsha‑priyam (repetition). Visvanatha defends his composition by appealing to logical principles: the repetition emphasises Bhava’s dual role as cosmic lord and teacher of dance. Prajapati shows how this debate exemplifies the tendency of rhetoricians to borrow concepts from logic and of logicians to respond in poetic terms. The author situates the muktavali within the tradition of sutra and commentary, noting that many Sanskrit works begin with verses invoking deities, teachers or themes central to the work’s subject. She traces earlier models for Visvanatha’s verse and analyses its metre, imagery and linguistic choices. The article explains key terms used in Navya‑Nyāya and Alamkaraśāstra, making it accessible to readers outside these fields. Prajapati emphasises that such interdisciplinary dialogues were common: logicians drew on rhetorical theory to justify stylistic choices, while poets borrowed logical categories to legitimise interpretive moves. This permeability, she argues, reflects the holistic intellectual culture of early modern India in which grammar, logic, literature and philosophy formed an interconnected web. By focusing on a single verse and its interpretation, the paper reveals how even minor poetic details were debated and how commentaries served as arenas for intellectual contestation. Prajapati concludes that the mangala verse of the Nyayasiddhanta‑muktavali is more than a ritual invocation: it encapsulates the text’s philosophical agenda and exemplifies the integration of aesthetics and logic. The article therefore contributes to a growing body of scholarship that seeks to understand Sanskrit intellectual life through close readings of commentarial exchanges.
Conclusion
Prajapati demonstrates that the mangala verse of the Nyayasiddhanta‑muktavali is a microcosm of the interplay between logic and poetics. Her analysis shows how Visvanatha used a benedictory verse to signal his allegiance to both Śiva and the Navya‑Nyāya school and how Ramarudra’s critique spurred a nuanced defence grounded in logical reasoning. The paper reminds us that Sanskrit scholars were deeply aware of aesthetic considerations and that disciplinary boundaries were permeable. It encourages future research into the cross‑fertilisation of different śāstras through the medium of commentarial discourse.