Information on Sridhar Svami (the famous commentator on the Bhagavata Purana,Vishnu Purana and Gita)

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Hari Parshad Das

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Aug 21, 2014, 2:55:37 AM8/21/14
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dear vidvaj-janas,

can anyone point out a good source of information on the life of Shridhar Swami — the famous commentator on the Bhagavata Purana?

thanks in advance.

sādhu-caraṇa-rajābhilāṣī,

hari pārṣada dāsa

श्रीमल्ललितालालितः

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Aug 21, 2014, 5:18:28 AM8/21/14
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I don't know about other details of shrI shrIdhara svAmI. But, from locals in kAshI I heard that his samAdhI is on maNikarNikA-ghATa on kAshI, in nR^isiMha maTha. The maTha was handed by the mahanta of that maTha to vishva-hindu-pariShad. They are running a pAThashAlA there.
I don't hope that they are concerned about the samAdhI of this mahAtmA.

श्रीमल्ललितालालितः
www.lalitaalaalitah.com


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Nagaraj Paturi

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Aug 21, 2014, 8:16:28 AM8/21/14
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All the sources give his date as 15th Century. They differ with regard to place.
 
Some mention Orissa /Odisha and some others indicate Gujarat.
 
I read this probably a legend (shared by one Sri V. Narayanan ) prevalent in some sections:

Sridhara Swami was born at Balodi Village at Gujarat some 600 years ago.
He was a disciple of Paramanda Puri and his beloved deity was Narasimha.

He attempted to bring synthesis between Shankara Samradhaya & Madhava Samradhaya.
Hence his commentaries are called Subodhini (Gita), Bhavarthadipka (Bhagavata) and Atmaprakasa (Vishnu Sahasra Nama)

"All are nothing other than God but just a part of Him" was his conclusion.
This is the concept of Vaishnavas. Hence despite an advaitin he is a devotee and vaishanava in inherent nature.

Therefore Advaitins did not agreed to the synthesis.
They created hell a lot of problems for the Swamiji.
Hence, Lord Shiva appeared before them and roared:

"I have learned the true teachings of the Scriptures due to chanting of Rama Nama.
So does Suka. Vyasa may or may not know as he is busy in compiling them than mediating on the meaning.
But Sridhara knows everything due to the grace of Lord Nrisimha.
Hence if one does any harm to him would reside only in hell..."

Aham vedhi Suko Vyaso Vedhi n vedri va
Sridharah sakalam Vedri SriNrishma Prasadah

Hope this clarifies Sridhara Swami's life and teaching.

Your Servant
V. Narayanan
 
The s'loka quoted has many errors. But seems to be part of the way the legend is narrated.
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Prof.Nagaraj Paturi
Hyderabad-500044

Nagaraj Paturi

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Aug 21, 2014, 8:42:23 AM8/21/14
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I realise now that the legend quoted in my previous post was part of a Gaudiya Vaishnava discussion at
 
 
 
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Prof.Nagaraj Paturi
Hyderabad-500044

Nityanand Misra

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Aug 21, 2014, 9:22:55 AM8/21/14
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On Thursday, August 21, 2014 12:25:37 PM UTC+5:30, Hari Parshad Das wrote:
dear vidvaj-janas,

can anyone point out a good source of information on the life of Shridhar Swami — the famous commentator on the Bhagavata Purana?



Please refer the attached. Pada number 45 of the Bhaktamāla by Nābhādāsa on Śrī Śrīdharācārya and the Mulārthabodhinī commentary in Hindi by my Gurudeva. Nābhādāsa is usually terse about factual details (Tathyas) and eloquent about virtues (Guṇas). Gurudeva gives an Ākhyā and some more details about Śrīdharācārya based on Antaḥsākṣyas.

This may be cited as
Nābhā, Gosvāmī Nārāyaṇadāsa; Swami Rambhadracharya, Jagadguru Ramanandacharya (January 14, 2014). Sharma, Dr. Ramadhar; Misra, Nityanand; Shukla, Manishkumar, eds. श्रीभक्तमाल (मूलार्थबोधिनी टीका सहित) [Śrībhaktamāla (with the Mūlārthabodhinī commentary)] (in Hindi) (First ed.). Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh, India: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University. ISBN 978-93-82253-04-4. pp. 105–107.
Mularthabodhini 105-107 SridharacaryaJi.pdf

Nityanand Misra

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Aug 21, 2014, 9:29:30 AM8/21/14
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Please find Bhaktirasabodhinī commentary of Priyādāsa on the 45th Pada of the Bhaktamāla of Nābhādāsa, and the Hindi Bhaktirasāyanī commentary by Rāmakṛṣṇadeva Garga on the former.

Publication details on page 2 of the attachment.


Bhakti Rasayani Sridharacharya Ji.pdf

Nagaraj Paturi

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Aug 21, 2014, 9:53:55 AM8/21/14
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Prof. Narasimhacharya, the editor of the TTD Edition of Srimadbhagavatapurana with different commentaries, writes in his Editorial,
 

It is learnt that Sridharaswami was the Mahant of the Sankarite monastery, Govardhan in about 1400 A.D. He says that he wrote his commentary, Bhavarthadlpika by name in strict adherence to the old tradition and followed the foot steps of Citsukhacarya. His commentary is lucid though brief, authoritative though reticent and direct to the point, and that is why most of the commentators have made use of this enlightening exegesis. Nabhadasji (Ref. Bhaktamala - Chappaya 440) recorded a legend wherein it was stated that Lord Bindumadhava of Varanasi has recognised Sridhara' s commentary as the authoritative interpretation of Sri Bhagavata.

 

Legends locate his place of birth/childhood at so many different places.

 


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Prof.Nagaraj Paturi
Hyderabad-500044

Nagaraj Paturi

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Aug 21, 2014, 10:01:40 AM8/21/14
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Is not the present status of the Samadhi of such a mahaatma a matter of great concern?
 
Can any member on this list from Varanasi update the forum about this?
 
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Prof.Nagaraj Paturi
Hyderabad-500044

sunil bhattacharjya

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Aug 21, 2014, 1:05:54 PM8/21/14
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It is believed that Vedavyasa wrote the Mahabharata so that the lay-persons should be able to get the Vedic knowledge, but after composing the Mahabharata, which contains everything worth knowing, Vedavyasa was a sad man as the text became not that simple for each and everybody to understand. At that time Narada advised him to compose the Bhagavata Purana to make the things simple for the layman. Such being the case the Mahabharata text should have been easily understood by each and everybody. But around the late 13th century The great scholar found several meanings for the Bhagavata verses and the Bhagavata came to be considered a difficult text to understand. It was probably because of this Sridharacahrya was asked by his guru to compose a commentary on the Bhagavata purana so that Vedavyasa's aim was fulfilled and everybody has access to the text.

As regards the Bindumadhava story, I read that Shridharacharya's  Subodhini-fika on the Bhagavad Gita was not accepted by the scholars in Kashi and they wanted a decision from Lord Bindumadhava. Flatteringly, the Lord said that Sridharacharya's understanding cannot be doubted even if Vedavyasa's understanding can be questioned.

Regards,

Hari Parshad Das

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Aug 21, 2014, 2:30:59 PM8/21/14
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sādhu!

my thanks to all vidvaj-janas here. Special thanks to Sri Nityananda Mishra and Sri Nagaraja Paturi.

sādhu-caraṇa-rajābhilāṣī,

hari pārṣada dāsa.
------------------------------

On Thursday, August 21, 2014 12:25:37 PM UTC+5:30, Hari Parshad Das wrote:

sunil bhattacharjya

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Aug 22, 2014, 7:22:19 AM8/22/14
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Dear friends,

There was a slip, for which I apologize. Kindly look at the the following correction: 

Wrong sentence : Such being the case the Mahabharata text should have been easily understood by each and everybody.

Correct sentence : Such being the case the Bhagavata purana text should have been easily understood by each and everybody.

Regards,

Venkata Sriram

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May 24, 2017, 2:11:27 AM5/24/17
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Dear Hari Parshad Ji,

The probable dates are given in "Annals of Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute - Vol.XXX".  You may refer to page no. 134 vide the article by Mr.PK Gode.  His logic seems to be good and application is methodological.

...............
...............

regs,
sriram

Hari Parshad Das

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Nov 18, 2020, 7:48:58 AM11/18/20
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Dear vidvaj-janas. I managed to locate a rare painting of Sridhara Svami. Please find it attached to this message.
image.jpg

Hari Parshad Das

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Nov 18, 2020, 8:17:02 AM11/18/20
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Also attached to this message is a faint photograph of Shri Vamshidhara (who wrote a commentary to explain Sridhara Swami's commentary).
image2.jpg

V Subrahmanian

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Nov 18, 2020, 1:27:41 PM11/18/20
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Many thanks for the two pictures.  

regards
subrahmanian.v

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