Bengali Scholars at Benares (1657 A.D.)
By Dinesh Chandra Bhattacharya
Summary
The article examines a Nirnayapatra written in Benares in 1657 A.D. and published in a 1926 Marathi journal. It identifies and analyzes the Naiyayikas among the seventy-seven signatories, focusing on five distinguished scholars, four of whom were from Bengal. The author uses manuscript evidence, historical references, and previous scholarship to establish the identities and chronologies of these figures. The first scholar discussed is Madhavadeva (No. 51), identified as the author of the Nyayasara. He migrated to Benares from Dharasura on the Godavari. The author proves his 17th-century timeline using a commentary on the Kusumaddali by his grandson, Trilocanadeva Nyayapaficanana, which references Gadadhara Bhattacarya and was likely written around 1700 A.D. The second scholar is Raghudeva Bhattacarya (No. 9), a Bengali Nyayalanikara who had a seminary in Benares. The author corrects local Navadvipa historians, noting that Raghudeva wrote works like the Tattvadipika and Niruktiprakasa, and was quoted by the Jain scholar Yaéovijayagani. The third scholar is Govinda Bhattacarya (No. 27), identified as the son of Rudra Nyayavacaspati. The author distinguishes him from other contemporary Govindas by citing his works, the Nyayasariksepa and Padyamuktavali, and a statement by his father. The fourth scholar is Ramarama Bhattacarya (No. 52), a teacher of Nagoji Bhatta. The fifth scholar is Jayarama Nyayapaficanana (No. 75), a Jagadguru of Benares. The author clarifies that Jayarama was a pupil of Ramabhadra Sarvabhauma, not Ramabhadra Siddhantavigisa, and argues that the commentator on the Kavyaprakasa is a different, earlier Jayarama. Finally, the text mentions another potential signatory, Narayanatirtha (No. 47), noting he is likely a different person from a Mimamsaka of the same name. The author relies heavily on manuscript colophons, colophons from printed editions, and the research of previous scholars like Prof. J. K. Gode. Specific sources include the Sarasvati Bhavana in Benares, the Jammu Catalog, the Calcutta Sanskrit College catalogue, and the Anup Sanskrit Library in Bikaner. The author also references the Poona Orientalist and the contributions of Hall and Bhandarkar to support the historical and textual analysis.
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Conclusion
This article identifies and analyzes five prominent Naiyayikas from Bengal who signed a 1657 A.D. Nirnayapatra in Benares, correcting previous historical misconceptions about their origins and timelines. It establishes Madhavadeva’s identity, traces Trilocanadeva’s 17th-century lineage, and clarifies that Raghudeva Bhattacarya and Govinda Bhattacarya established their scholarly seminaries in Benares rather than Navadvipa. Furthermore, it distinguishes between the Nyaya philosopher Jayarama and an earlier poetic namesake, while highlighting the forgotten Ramarama Bhattacarya and the significant presence of other scholars like Narayanatirtha. The findings underscore Benares as a major hub for Bengali philosophical migration and intellectual exchange during the 17th century.