Works of Sri Vidyaranya

Sri Vidyaranya’s literary contributions comprise works on Vyakarana, Mimamsa, Smriti, Purana, astronomy/astrology, Mantra Sastra, music, Darsana and Advaita Vedanta. The more important of them are Jaiminiya Nyayamala, Parasara-smriti Vyakhyana, Smriti Sangraha, Vyavahara-Madhava, Sri Vidyatirtha-Dipika, Vivaranaprameya Sangraha, Panchadasi, Jivanmukti Viveka, Drig Drisya Viveka, Aparokshanubhuti-Tika, and six Upanishad-Dipikas.

Of these, Panchadasi is an important work in Advaita Vedanta, so called because of its division into fifteen chapters, dealing with topics of metaphysical and spiritual importance. In the Brhadaranyavartikasara, Sri Vidyaranya summarises Sri Sureshwaracharya’s work. Dipikas on Aitareya and Taittiriya Upanishads and Sri Shankara’s summary of the twelve principal Upanishads, are also attributed to Sri Vidyaranya.

Madhaviya Shankara Vijaya is the work of Sri Vidyaranya. Because of its high poetic merit and objectivity, it is considered the best for recitation during Shankara Jayanti.

Drgdrsyaviveka is considered a combined work of Sri Vidyaranya and His predecessor, Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha. The works of the two Jagadgurus are among the greatest treatises in post-Shankara Advaita literature and both of them occupy a unique place in the history of religion.