नारायणं निखिलपूर्णगुणैकदेहं
निर्दोषमाप्यतममप्यखिलैः सुवाक्यैः ।
अस्योद्भवादिदमशेषविशेषतोपि
वन्द्यं सदा प्रियतमं मम सन्नमामि ।।
Anuvyakhyana is a work that enjoys greatest respect in Dvaita Tradition. It is the most elaborate among the four works - Sutra Bhashya, Anuvyakhyana, Nyaya Vivarana and Anu Bhashya written on the Brahma Sutras by Sri Madhwacharya. It is a fitting supplement to the Brahma Sutra Bhashya. It is a long work of 1919 metrical verses arranged according to the Adhyaya and Pada scheme of the Brahma Sutras as revealed in the Bhashya.
Need for Anuvyakhyana
Anuvyakhyana is composed at the request of his favourite disciple – Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya. Awed by the depth of logical thought that Sri Madhwacharya has packed into the terse Brahma Sutra Bhashya, and concerned that such depth of logical thought is incomprehensible to ordinary mortals, Sri Panditacharya placed a request before Sri Acharya to elucidate the Brahama Sutra Bhashya by a more detailed presentation of the logical thought enshrined in it. Acharya favourably responded by dictating with ease, the four chapters of Anuvyakhyana, simultaneously, to four of his disciples. This speaks volumes about the unfathomable intellectual capacity of Sri Acharya.
Central Theme
The central theme of Anuvyakhyana is to establish the Gunapoornatva of Lord Vishnu by way of making a thorough review of all the systems of philosophy w.r.t. their epistemological, ontological and soteriological standpoints. It also reviews such schools of thought that were suggested but not elaborated by the sutras.
Difference in Style
Bhashya, true to its definition, keeps a strict coherence to the Sutra text. Anuvyakhyana on the other hand enjoys a higher freedom in covering the concepts. While the Bhashya is terse and concise, Anuvyakhyana is elaborate and appropriately fills in the gaps in understanding the deeper intent of the Bhashya. In this way, its relationship to Sutra Bhashya is similar to what Gita Tatparya is to Gita Bhashya.
Salient Features
» Serves as an fitting companion to Sutra Bhashya.
» Serves as a reference manual for final philosophical standpoints of Tattvavada.
» Its central objective is to impress upon the reader to conduct an inquiry into the nature of Brahman and know Him to be Supreme with infinite auspicious attributes and devoid of all blemishes. It is with this knowledge coupled by utmost devotion towards the Lord that the devotee would cross over the shackles of bondage. Those who are liberated from the Samsara permanently move to a blissful state called Moksha, where there is neither death nor sorrow.
» Employs shrewd and astounding logic while it reviews and refutes other schools of thought.
» Exhibits full command on the language and style of polemical debates.
» All important epistemological, ontological and soteriological issues are discussed and final standpoints are presented.
» Draws from old authentic treatises such as Brahma Tarka, several of which have been lost to posterity.
» Reviews all major systems of Indian Philosophy – Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Prabhakara, Bhatta, Buddha, Jaina, Pashupata, Advaita, Vishishtadvaita etc.
» Primarily refutes the theory of illusion and substantiates a realistic viewpoint about the Universe.
» Discusses the meanings of several Shruti passages and presents their correct interpretation.
» Succinctly summarizes the Purva Paksha and Siddhanta positions for each Adhikarana in the form of maxims called Nyayas.
Conclusion
Anuvyakhyana is one of the chief texts written by Sri Madhwacharya. Written to clarify and expand the thoughts presented in his own work Brahma Sutra Bhashya, Anuvyakhyana has attracted maximum attention of the followers of this tradition. All graduating scholars study this text along with its commentary Sriman Nyaya Sudha as the final text of their 16 year long education. Considered as the most auspicious text, many devotees do not partake even a sip of water before reciting this holy text.
निःशेषदोषरहितकल्याणाखिलसद्गुण ।
भूतिस्वयंभुशर्वादिवन्द्यं त्वां नौमि मे प्रियम् ।।