Contribution of Ramacandra Pandita to Sanskrit Literature

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About the Book Ramacandra Pandita, son of the great saint Siddhesvara Maharaja of Kolhapur was a versatile scholar. He wrote nume rous treatises and Stotras in Sanskrit and Marathi. The works of Ramacandra Pandita are presented here in a book form. It contains six philosophical works, ten Sanskrit Stotras, Sanskrit Arartikvas Miscellaneous Slokas and two works the Kundavedikakrtih and the Vritabhira mah-all of which are composed by Ramacandra Pandita. It can highlight the outstanding contribution of a scholar to the varied fields of Sanskrit Literature, especially the Vedanta and the Stotra literature. The philosophical works incorporate the lucid metrical and prose exposition of the tenets of the Advaita Vedanta and Stotras are replete with the devotional fervour.

About the Author 1 Officiating Director, Oriental Institute, Maharaja Sayajirao University.

Vadodara. 2. B.A., M.A. Ph.D., M.S. University, Vadodara.

3. Engaged in Research for the last 25 years. 4. Several books written and edited by him are published and appreciated by scholarly world. 1. Devalasmrti Reconstruction and Critical Study: Vol. I, Introduction and Text, Vol. II, Critical Study and Appendices, 2. Aspects of Indological Studies (A collection of his research), 3. Devima hatmyam with commentary of Nilambaracaya, 4. Samskrtika Samdar bhamam Samkrta Sahityano Itihasa Part-III (Gujarati), 5. Dharme Sarvam pratisthitam-A collection of Samskrta Articles of Pt. Jagannatha Shridhara Padeshastri-(Edited Jointly with Shri P.H. Joshi), 6. Dharme Sarvam Prati sthitam-Marathi translation of the above Sanskrit book, 7. Akşaravan maya-A collection of Marathi Articles of Pt. Jagannatha Shridhara Padeshastri-(Edited Jointly with Shri P.H. Joshi).

5. Born and brought up in traditional atmosphere, as his Uncle was a Veteran Sanskrit scholar and versatile indologist of great repute.

6. The present book is a kind of tribute to the Revered Sage Siddheśvara Mahārāja and his scholar son Ramacandra of Kolhapur, with which family Dr. Wadekar is connected.

Foreword Ramacandra Pandita, son of the great saint Siddhivara Mahletja of Kolhapur was a versatile scholar, who wrote merous treatises and Serar in Sanskrit and Marathi In Augus 2001, Shri Yashavata Maharaja, present heir of the family made a gerous donation of more than eight hundred manuscripts to the Oriental Institute of Baroda. As I am also related to him, he was gracious enough to give me the Xerox-copies of the works of Ramandra Pandita and suggested to publish all of them in a book from I am greatly indebted to him and his family members for this kind gesture.

Acccedingly, I started collecting, copying down and editing those works. Shri Millind Joshi, the former Research Assistant, Oriental Institute, Baroda has also helped me in copying down some of the works in the present collection. I am thankful to him for his assistance. I am also thankful to Dr. S.Y. Wakankar for his help in various ways for the publication of this book. I am indebted to Shri C.P. Ganter for accepting this small work for publication and bringing it out quickly in a nice way.

The book contains six philosophical works, ten Sanskrit Stotras, Sanskrit Ardrtikyas, Miscellaneous Slokas and two works-the Kandavedikakyti and the Vynabhiramak all of which are composed by Ramacandra Pandita. It can highlight the outstanding contribution of a scholar to the varied fields of Sanskrit literature, especially the Vedanta and the Stotra literature. The philosophical works incorporated the lucid metrical and prose exposition of the tenets of the Advaita Vedanta and Stotras are replete with the devotional fervour.

Introduction The Sanskrit language has a long-standing tradition of various scholars, writing scholarly treatises on different fastras, Every region of India has been gifted with talented Panditas, enriching the scholarly literature, in different periods of its history. Ramacandra Pandita is one of such versatile savants of Sanskrit literature, whose contribution to various astras in the form of different scholarly works has less been taken notice of by Modern researchers. In this book, an attempt is made to introduce this great scholar from Kolhapur and his rare and unique works which have not yet come to light and have remained in manuscript form.

Biographical Information Ramachandra Pandita was the eldest son of the revered Siddheśvara Maharaja of Kolhapur. Fortunately enough, we get much detailed biographical information about him and his family. His father Sri Siddhesvara Mahārāja! was a great Saint and an ardent seeker of truth. He was born on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of the month Caitra in year Sake 1665 Le. 1743 A.D. His mother's name was Godavari and that of his father was Ramabhatta Baba. He belonged to Krynätri gotra of Madhyandin Recension of Sukla Yajurveda. It is believed that his father propitiated Lord at the self-born (Svayambhu) Hariharesvara temple and obtained through the grace of God, the son, who is considered to be the incarnation of Bhairava. He was given Upanayana Samskara at the age of five and was married also at an early age but unfortunately his first wife died very early.

**Contents and Sample Pages**