Preface

The teachings of the Upaniṣads are explained through various texts and by different Vedāntic traditions. Every Vedāntic tradition has explained their tenets in their own light. One of the most popular traditions of Vedānta is the Rāmānuja system which is better known as the Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta. From the time of the great preceptor like Yāmuna down to the time of Mahācārya, not many texts were written to understand the basic concepts of this system. Though there were some like Nītimāla etc., yet, they were only partial. The great poet, philosopher Śrī Vedānta Deśikā, wrote a number of treatises explaining the various facets of this tradition. But these texts were highly dialectical and were difficult to understand by an ordinary reader. Hence, it became necessary for the later writers to present the system in a lucid style, so that it could be understood, appreciated and propagated.

Apart from the well known texts like Yatīndramata Dīpikā, Vedānta Karikāvalī, there is another text Siddhānta Saṅgraha by Śrī Śailacārya, who belonged to eighteenth century. This text was not brought to light for a very long time though there were a number of manuscripts available in the different manuscripts libraries of South India. Śrī Śailācārya was a close follower and admirer of Vedānta Deśikā and has more or less summarised the teachings of Vedānta Deśikā in his Siddhānta Saṅgraha. In order to fulfill the long felt need of presenting this text critically the present venture was undertaken by me. A free english rendering of the text is also provided as a part of this thesis.

Behind the completion of the present thesis, there are so many people who directly and indirectly encouraged and supported me for the successful completion of the Critical Edition of Siddhānta Saṅgraha of Śrī Śailācārya.

My grateful thanks are due to Dr. Siniruddha Dash, Head of the Department of Samskrit, University of Madras, for providing the much needed motivation to pursue the research. I also thank all the faculty members of the Samskrit Department, University of Madras.

I offer my humble praṇāṃs to Mahāmahopādhyāya Śrī. Nāvalpākkam Varadācāriār Swāmi, the recipient of President Award for proficiency in Sanskrit, with whose kind help made me in understanding some of the basic concepts of Viśiṣṭādvaita Philosophy. I had a great privilege in learning the entire text under him.

I will be failing in my duty if I didn’t thank Dr. S.Padmanabhan, Professor Department of Samskrit, University of Madras, with whose guidance and teaching at every stage helped me for the successful completion of the thesis. He guided me step by step, spending many hours in correcting the text and fixing the readings. Words are not enough to express my gratitude to him. It is indeed my good fortune that in carrying out this Critical Edition under his guidance.

To the Librarians and Curators of Adyar Library Library and Research Centre; Madras University Library; Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Chennai; Mysore Oriental Research Institute; Sri Venkateshwara Oriental Research Institute, I am thankful for providing me the copies of the Manuscripts and related literature.

My thanks are due to Dr. T.S. Narayanan, Research Assistant, Sri Venkateshwara Oriental Research Institute, Tirupati, Dr. N.R. Sridharan, Lecturer in Nyāya, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Trissur and E. Rajasekhar for their help in collating the two Grantha Manuscripts and a Telugu Manuscripts respectively.

I also express my thanks to my friends Dr. K. Mallikeshwaran, Smt. Gowri and Mr. K.Durai Raj for the neat execution of the thesis.

T.E. SOWMYANARAYANAN