Post‑Vyasārāya Polemics

Summary

‘Post‑Vyasārāya Polemics’ explores the intellectual disputes among south‑Indian scholars after the death of the great 16th‑century Dvaita philosopher Vyasatirtha (Vyāsārāya). The paper surveys how Vyasatirtha’s followers defended his positions against both Advaita Vedāntins and internal critics within the Dvaita tradition. It analyses a series of polemical treatises produced in the late 16th and early 17th centuries—especially the works of Vijayīndra Tīrtha and Sudhindra Tīrtha—that sought to answer objections raised by Appaya Dīkṣita and other Advaitins. The author traces recurring themes, such as debates over whether the soul is the size of an atom or universal, the nature of liberation and the status of scriptural testimony. By examining Sanskrit citations and refutations line by line, the article shows how dialectical methods developed by Vyasatirtha were refined by his disciples into sophisticated logical arguments. It also highlights the wider cultural context, noting that royal patrons at Vijayanagara and Thanjavur encouraged learned disputation as part of court culture. The polemics are shown to have served not only philosophical aims but also sectarian identity formation within Mādhva communities, helping to consolidate doctrinal boundaries against rival schools. The author emphasises that these debates were respectful yet vigorous, preserving key elements of Vyasatirtha’s philosophy while allowing for innovation. In doing so, the paper offers rare insight into the dynamic intellectual life of early modern south India.