Vishnu Tattva Vinirnaya 

सदागमैकविज्ञेयं समतीतक्षराक्षरम् ।

नारायणं सदा वन्दे निर्दोषाशेषसद्गुणम्  ।।

Vishnu Tattva Vinirnaya is a scholarly work written by Sri Madhwacharya. This assumes greater importance among all the ten Prakarana works. In this work, we find a thorough presentation, supported by scriptural authority and reasoning, of all important tenets of the Tattvavada School of thought.

Significance of Name

This work gets its name because it gives decisive knowledge regarding the nature of Vishnu.

Central Theme

The central theme of this work is to firmly establish the following three things

» Narayana is known only through the Sadagamas (Holy Scriptures)

» Narayana is full of auspicious attributes and he is free from all blemishes

» He is superior to Mahalakshmi and all other mortals

Three Chapters

This work contains three Paricchedas or chapters dealing with each of the above three points. Among the three chapters the first chapter dealing with the Sadagamas is most elaborate. Several important concepts such as the Un-Authoredness of the Vedas, the Definiton of the Veda, Refutation of Charvaka School of Thought, Intrinsic Nature of Validity of Knowledge (Pramanya), Classification of Sources of Knowledge, Elucidation of the concept of Difference and its intrinsical identity with the object are discussed in the first chapter.

In the second chapter, the central theme is to substantiate the supremacy of Lord Vishnu over others. Defects in all other entities are mentioned and the blemishless nature of the Supreme Lord is elucidated.

In the third chapter Narayana is shown to be full of auspicious qualities and devoid of all blemishes. The concept of Vishesha (Speciality) is expounded in this chapter.

Commentaries

Vishnu Tattva Nirnaya has been commented upon by several erudite scholars of Tattvavada School. Among the commentaries, Sri Narayana Panditacharya’s Tattva Manjari, Sri Jayateertha Teeka with sub-commentaries thereupon namely Sri Raghuttama Tirtha’s Bhavabodha, Sri Raghavendra Tirtha’s Bhava Deepa, Sri Srinivasa Tirtha’s Vakyartha Dipika, Sri Vyasa Tattvagnya Tirtha’s Laghu Prabha and Sri Pandurangi Keshava Bhattaraka’s Vishamapada Vakyartha Vivruti are available.

Salient Features

» This work is a commentary to Gayatri Mantra.

» This work is considered as Anu Sudha, next only to Srimad Anuvyakhyana Nyaya Sudha in a comprehensive treatment of all important tenets of Philosophy.

» The Four Vedas, Pancharatra, Mahabharata and Moola Ramayana are declared as the seven Sadagamas. Those texts which concur with the above are also called Sadagamas.

» The Auporusheyatva (un-authoredness) of the Vedas is categorically established.

» The eternality of the Varnas (alphabhets) is established and Shpota theory is critiqued.

» The validity of Pratyabigna (Recognition) is established.

» The Charvaka School of Thought is refuted.

» The intrinsic nature of Pramanya is established.

» The intrinsic nature of Bheda (difference) is established.

» Reality of the world is established.

» Identity between the God and the souls is refuted.

» Exhaustively proves that Shruti Passages do not support Identity

» The validity of Pratyaksha is established.

» Many other tenets are established which are not elaborated here for the sake of brevity.

Conclusion

Vishnu Tattva Vinirnaya concludes by establishing the Supreme God Vishnu to be full of auspicious qualities and devoid of all blemishes. Acharya also reveals his original form as Lord Vayu, who incarnated as Hanuman, Bheema and Sri Madhwa, by the order of Lord Sri Hari. In this third form, Sri Madhwacharya has composed several works to give correct knowledge to the noble.

नमो नारायणायाजभवशक्रोष्णरुङ्मुखैः ।

सदा वन्दितपादाय श्रीपाय प्रेयसेधिकम् ।।