Videos by Sundareswaran N.K
This is the video presentation of my paper titled "Vedic calendar from the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa" m... more This is the video presentation of my paper titled "Vedic calendar from the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa" made in the Section on Veda, of the 18th World Sanskrit Conference . 64 views
Prof. P. V. Ramankutty speaking on Prof. M. P. Sankunni Nair. Prof. Nair was a well-known critic... more Prof. P. V. Ramankutty speaking on Prof. M. P. Sankunni Nair. Prof. Nair was a well-known critic of Malayalam literature and a Sanskrit scholar. He had significant insights and new and original ideas regarding the Intellectual and histrionic traditions of India. A researcher of a different kind, he has written remarkable books on Abhinavagupta, Kālidāsa, and the Nāțya tradition. All these are written in Malyalam language. 9 views
Papers by Sundareswaran N.K
Dhimahi, Vol.16, 2025
From the perspective of history of intellectual discourses, a significant aspect of Āryabhaṭīyabh... more From the perspective of history of intellectual discourses, a significant aspect of Āryabhaṭīyabhāṣya is the way in which Nīlakaṇṭha Somayājin looks upon Mīmāṃsā. He takes it as a science on critical examination and methodology. This aspect has not been given much attention by scholars.
Besides highlighting the practical and observational aspect of the science (i.e. Jyautiṣa) , Somayājin very often stresses on the need for continuity of the carrying out investigation . In this connection, he cites passages from classical works on Mīmāṃsā such as Śabarasvāmibhāṣya, Bṛhaṭṭīkā, Tantravārttika, Paritoṣamiśra’s Ajitā commentary, the Vijayā commentary on Ajitā and Pārthasārathimiśra’s Nyāyaratnamālā.
I have made in this paper, a detailed analysis of of such passages. Discussions take us to another Nīlakaṇṭha of the same region, a scholar Sanyāsin, the author of extensive metrical ommentary on Yāska's Nirukta. The commentary is less known.
Conclusion:- Somayājin and Nīlakaṇṭha, both hailing from one village, view Mīmāṃsā as a science for intellectual deliberation. Moreover, they employ the principles of it in totally different disciplines like Mathematics and Linguistics. This hints at a strong possibility of a vibrant tradition of Mīmāṃsā in the region during the period roughly extending from the 14th to 17th centuries of Common Era .
Samskrita Sahithya Charithram (Part IV), Kerala Sahitya Academy, 2026
This is a brief survey of literature pertaining to Indian Mathematics and Astronomy.
Samskrita Sahithya Charithram (Part IV), Kerala Sahitya Academy, 2026
It is a brief survey of Dharmaśāstra literature.
Remembering Sir Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, Aryan Books International, New Delhi, 2025
The Sulabhā-Janaka episode in the Mahābhārata contains some ideas on an ideal speech whic... more The Sulabhā-Janaka episode in the Mahābhārata contains some ideas on an ideal speech which represents an early phase in the development of eristics, perhaps, earlier to those represented by Caraka Saṃhitā and Nyāyasūtras. The text contains a meta-discourse, and thus assumes significance as an important source material for the study of early history of eristics in India. Hence in this paper a close study of the text is carried out.
The essential characteristics of a good speech enunciated therein, having five constituents, is a fine model for critical deliberation. This concept of vākya might be a precursor of the concept of adhikaraṇa in the Mīmāṃsā system of philosophy.
The text has multiple textual problems, the most glaring one being the mismatch in number (between the declared number (of blemishes and excellences) and the actual number of items given in the supplied list). Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara, who relies heavily on Sarasvatīkaṇṭhābharaṇa of Bhoja sheds darkness rather than light, in this passage.
Sulabha’s meta-discourse on the grammar of argumentation gives us a precious sample of some early ideas from Indian eristics. The details of its affinity with the various philosophical and intellectual traditions of India need to be worked out in greater detail. The complexity and richness of this passage invite scholars’ attention, while highlighting the antiquity of thoughts on critical deliberation and clear presentation in India.
Remembering Sir Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar: Life & Legacy, Aryan Books International, New Dlhi, 2025
The Sulabhā-Janaka episode in the Mahābhārata contains some ideas on an ideal speech which repres... more The Sulabhā-Janaka episode in the Mahābhārata contains some ideas on an ideal speech which represents an early phase in the development of eristics, perhaps, earlier to those represented by Caraka Saṃhitā and Nyāyasūtras. The text contains a meta-discourse, and thus assumes significance as an important source material for the study of early history of eristics in India. Hence in this paper a close study of the text is carried out.
The essential characteristics of a good speech enunciated therein, having five constituents, is a fine model for critical deliberation. This concept of "vākya" might be a precursor of the concept of adhikaraṇa in the Mīmāṃsā system of philosophy.
The text has multiple textual problems, the most glaring one being the mismatch in number (between the declared number (of blemishes and excellences) and the actual number of items given in the supplied list). Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara, who relies heavily on Sarasvatīkaṇṭhābharaṇa of Bhoja sheds darkness rather than light, in this passage. It may be worthwhile to find out why he depends heavily on this work.
Sulabha’s meta-discourse on the grammar of argumentation gives us a precious sample of some early ideas from Indian eristics. The details of its affinity with the various philosophical and intellectual traditions of India need to be worked out in greater detail. The complexity and richness of this passage invite scholars’ attention, while highlighting the antiquity of thoughts on critical deliberation and clear presentation in India.
വൃക്ഷവൈജ്ഞാനികം, കറൻറ് ബുക്സ്, തൃശ്ശൂർ, 2025
ഋഗ്വേദസംഹിത മുതൽ ഗൃഹ്യസൂത്രങ്ങൾ അടങ്ങുന്ന ബൃഹത്തായ വൈദികസാഹിത്യത്തിൽ പരാമർശിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന സസ്യങ്ങൾ... more ഋഗ്വേദസംഹിത മുതൽ ഗൃഹ്യസൂത്രങ്ങൾ അടങ്ങുന്ന ബൃഹത്തായ വൈദികസാഹിത്യത്തിൽ പരാമർശിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന സസ്യങ്ങൾ, ഓഷധികൾ, വൃക്ഷങ്ങൾ (ഇവ, പ്രകൃതിചിത്രണത്തിൻറെ ഭാഗമായും, ആചാരാനുഷ്ഠാനങ്ങളുടെ ഭാഗമായും ആലങ്കാരിക-കല്പനകളുടെ ഭാഗമായും പല തരത്തിലുണ്ടു്) എന്നിവയുടെ ഒരു വിഹഗവീക്ഷണവും തരം തിരിച്ചുള്ള വിശകലനവും ഉള്ളടങ്ങുന്നു.
Sanskrit Manjari October to December 2024, 2024
This article, written in Sanskrit, is an appreciation of the Sanskrit poem titled Mahātmavijaya. ... more This article, written in Sanskrit, is an appreciation of the Sanskrit poem titled Mahātmavijaya. The composition (khaṇḍakāvya) is a beautiful literary piece having 100 verses written by K. L. Vyasaraja Sastri. It is a eulogy on Mahatma Gandhi. Written in the year 1949, in 100 upajati verses, the poem highlights the values, and practices such as Ahimsā, Satya, Satyagraha held by Mahatma. The style of language is elegant and simple. It reveals the high regard held by the poet towards Vedic seers and Kalidasa. The present paper is an analytical study of this beautiful century, a valuable contribution to the Classical Sanskrit literature by a modern poet.
The Traditional Trees of Bharat, 2024
This is a brief survey of references in Vedic literature to various trees and plants pointing to... more This is a brief survey of references in Vedic literature to various trees and plants pointing to the scope and necessity of further research in the field. The analysis, which follows this, is confined to some selected aspects such as ritualistic, religious, literary and socio-cultural. Given the remote age in which the Vedic literature evolved, the identification of these flora does pose a challenge especially due to limited descriptions of their characteristic features. However a thorough study of this literature by locating multiple references or descriptions of trees and plants across both Vedic and post-Vedic literature and analyzing facts from multifarious angles such as geographical, botanical, and cultural ones could indeed be much beneficial. It could throw up a mine of information and insight useful to researchers of Botany, Agriculture, Cultural Studies, Ecology, and Indic knowledge.
യുക്തിഭാഷ:ജ്യേഷ്ഠദേവൻ, 2024
This is a detailed study on Yuktibhsha, the celebrated mathematical work from medieval Kerala. In... more This is a detailed study on Yuktibhsha, the celebrated mathematical work from medieval Kerala. In fact this forms the "Foreword" to latest edition of the work. The edition is carried out by Dr. P. Rajasekhar. The commentary is also in Malayalam. The commentary is lucid and really useful for understanding the original work.
(SPCS 2024 - ISBN 978-81-19911-02-8
Festivals of India, 2024
In this paper, the descriptions of festivities in Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa are subjected to a close study.... more In this paper, the descriptions of festivities in Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa are subjected to a close study. The expressions of people in the occasions of festivals are subjected to analysis.
Even when he looks seriously upon life, Vālmīki describes all the phases of it. He depicts them with fine artistic skill in his poem (Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa). Widest range of emotions is beautifully embedded in the structure of the story. He has also vividly and beautifully described the exhilarating mood of people during festivities.
It is really surprising to note that the expressions and behavior of people (in India) in festive occasions has more or less remained the same in their modes and means. Even the outward physical formalities also have remained the same. People go out, do some shopping, enjoy delicious food in public feasts, have some merry-making and love sports, and like to dissolve one’s identity into the crowd.
Prabuddhakeralam March, 2024
A very brief introduction to Mīmāṃsā philosophy.
പൂർവ്വമീമാംസാദർശനത്തെ സാധാരണക്കാർക്ക് പരിച... more A very brief introduction to Mīmāṃsā philosophy.
പൂർവ്വമീമാംസാദർശനത്തെ സാധാരണക്കാർക്ക് പരിചയപ്പെടുത്തുക എന്നതാണ് ലക്ഷ്യം.
Bhakthapriya, a monthly published by Guruvayur Devasvam, 2024
This is a critique on Nārāyanīya, the celebrated devotional poem. It is an attempt to establish t... more This is a critique on Nārāyanīya, the celebrated devotional poem. It is an attempt to establish that through the stotrakārvya, the author is giving himself a message. Compose and sing the divine tales of Lord for the benefit of common man, that is the message.
ശ്രീമന്നാരായണീയത്തിലൂടെ, കവിയുടെ കാവ്യരചനാനുഭവങ്ങളിലേയ്ക്കു്, സൂക്ഷ്മമായ ഒരന്വേഷണം നടത്തുമ്പോൾ നമുക്കു കാണാൻ കഴിയുന്ന രസകരമായ കാഴ്ച്ചകളിൽ ഒന്നു്, കവി തനിയ്ക്കു തന്നെ നല്കാനാഗ്രഹിയ്ക്കുന്ന ഒരു സന്ദേശം ഉണ്ടെന്നതാണു്. അതെന്താണെന്നോ? ശാസ്ത്രപാണ്ഡിത്യത്തിന്റെ ഭാരവും ഭള്ളും ബലാല്ക്കാരമായി തൂത്തെറിഞ്ഞു് സാധാരണക്കാർക്കു വേണ്ടി ഭഗവല്ലീലകളെ ധാരാളമായി പാടിപ്പുകഴ്ത്തുക.
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Videos by Sundareswaran N.K
Papers by Sundareswaran N.K
Besides highlighting the practical and observational aspect of the science (i.e. Jyautiṣa) , Somayājin very often stresses on the need for continuity of the carrying out investigation . In this connection, he cites passages from classical works on Mīmāṃsā such as Śabarasvāmibhāṣya, Bṛhaṭṭīkā, Tantravārttika, Paritoṣamiśra’s Ajitā commentary, the Vijayā commentary on Ajitā and Pārthasārathimiśra’s Nyāyaratnamālā.
I have made in this paper, a detailed analysis of of such passages. Discussions take us to another Nīlakaṇṭha of the same region, a scholar Sanyāsin, the author of extensive metrical ommentary on Yāska's Nirukta. The commentary is less known.
Conclusion:- Somayājin and Nīlakaṇṭha, both hailing from one village, view Mīmāṃsā as a science for intellectual deliberation. Moreover, they employ the principles of it in totally different disciplines like Mathematics and Linguistics. This hints at a strong possibility of a vibrant tradition of Mīmāṃsā in the region during the period roughly extending from the 14th to 17th centuries of Common Era .
The essential characteristics of a good speech enunciated therein, having five constituents, is a fine model for critical deliberation. This concept of vākya might be a precursor of the concept of adhikaraṇa in the Mīmāṃsā system of philosophy.
The text has multiple textual problems, the most glaring one being the mismatch in number (between the declared number (of blemishes and excellences) and the actual number of items given in the supplied list). Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara, who relies heavily on Sarasvatīkaṇṭhābharaṇa of Bhoja sheds darkness rather than light, in this passage.
Sulabha’s meta-discourse on the grammar of argumentation gives us a precious sample of some early ideas from Indian eristics. The details of its affinity with the various philosophical and intellectual traditions of India need to be worked out in greater detail. The complexity and richness of this passage invite scholars’ attention, while highlighting the antiquity of thoughts on critical deliberation and clear presentation in India.
The essential characteristics of a good speech enunciated therein, having five constituents, is a fine model for critical deliberation. This concept of "vākya" might be a precursor of the concept of adhikaraṇa in the Mīmāṃsā system of philosophy.
The text has multiple textual problems, the most glaring one being the mismatch in number (between the declared number (of blemishes and excellences) and the actual number of items given in the supplied list). Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara, who relies heavily on Sarasvatīkaṇṭhābharaṇa of Bhoja sheds darkness rather than light, in this passage. It may be worthwhile to find out why he depends heavily on this work.
Sulabha’s meta-discourse on the grammar of argumentation gives us a precious sample of some early ideas from Indian eristics. The details of its affinity with the various philosophical and intellectual traditions of India need to be worked out in greater detail. The complexity and richness of this passage invite scholars’ attention, while highlighting the antiquity of thoughts on critical deliberation and clear presentation in India.
(SPCS 2024 - ISBN 978-81-19911-02-8
Even when he looks seriously upon life, Vālmīki describes all the phases of it. He depicts them with fine artistic skill in his poem (Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa). Widest range of emotions is beautifully embedded in the structure of the story. He has also vividly and beautifully described the exhilarating mood of people during festivities.
It is really surprising to note that the expressions and behavior of people (in India) in festive occasions has more or less remained the same in their modes and means. Even the outward physical formalities also have remained the same. People go out, do some shopping, enjoy delicious food in public feasts, have some merry-making and love sports, and like to dissolve one’s identity into the crowd.
പൂർവ്വമീമാംസാദർശനത്തെ സാധാരണക്കാർക്ക് പരിചയപ്പെടുത്തുക എന്നതാണ് ലക്ഷ്യം.
ശ്രീമന്നാരായണീയത്തിലൂടെ, കവിയുടെ കാവ്യരചനാനുഭവങ്ങളിലേയ്ക്കു്, സൂക്ഷ്മമായ ഒരന്വേഷണം നടത്തുമ്പോൾ നമുക്കു കാണാൻ കഴിയുന്ന രസകരമായ കാഴ്ച്ചകളിൽ ഒന്നു്, കവി തനിയ്ക്കു തന്നെ നല്കാനാഗ്രഹിയ്ക്കുന്ന ഒരു സന്ദേശം ഉണ്ടെന്നതാണു്. അതെന്താണെന്നോ? ശാസ്ത്രപാണ്ഡിത്യത്തിന്റെ ഭാരവും ഭള്ളും ബലാല്ക്കാരമായി തൂത്തെറിഞ്ഞു് സാധാരണക്കാർക്കു വേണ്ടി ഭഗവല്ലീലകളെ ധാരാളമായി പാടിപ്പുകഴ്ത്തുക.