The Mārutamaṇḍana of Vanamālī Miśra

The Marutamaṇḍana is a polemical treatise by Vanamālī Miśra, a pupil of Bhāṭṭoji Dīkṣita and an important scholar of the Dvaita (dualistic) school of Vedānta. This article introduces the author, situates him within the Madhva tradition and summarises his Marutamaṇḍana. It begins with an overview of the intellectual background: the Dvaita scholar Vyāsatīrtha compiled the Nyāyamṛta, a massive critique of Advaita philosophy that arranged points of dispute in a novel and systematic manner; his work was subsequently refuted by Vanamālī Miśra. The Marutamaṇḍana continues this dialectical tradition. It systematically addresses central Vedāntic issues such as the relationship between Brahman and the individual soul, the reality of the world, the means of knowledge and the role of language in conveying metaphysical truths. Drawing on logic (Nyāya), ritual hermeneutics (Mīmāṃsā) and grammar, Vanamālī counters Advaita arguments that Brahman alone is real and the world illusory; he defends Madhva’s assertion of real difference (bheda) between the supreme and finite selves and uses scriptural citations to support the supremacy of Viṣṇu. The article analyses the structure of the Marutamaṇḍana, showing how each chapter identifies an Advaita thesis, summarises the argument, and then offers a detailed refutation. It also discusses the work’s style, noting its rigorous logic and occasional use of metaphor. The author suggests that Vanamālī’s contribution lies in synthesising dialectical techniques from earlier Dvaita and Advaita works and in presenting the dualist position with clarity and philosophical sophistication. The essay calls for the publication of a critical edition of the Marutamaṇḍana and argues that its study is essential for understanding post‑Vedānta debates.

Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.