Brahman: The Supreme Being in Brahmasutras

Brahmasutras are the central text of Vedanta Philosophy. The Sutras are arranged in four chapters. The first one is called Samanvayadhyaya in which Shastrasamanvaya in Brahman is achieved. In the second chapter known as Avirodhadhyaya, the views of other schools of Philosophy, Sankhya, Vaisheshika, Jaina,Bauddha, etc. are rejected. In the third chpater known as Sadhanadhyaya. Vairagya, Bhakti, and Upasana are explaiend. In the fourth chapter known as Phaladhyaya, Utkranti, Marga and Bhoga are explained.

The Sutras are very brief, Hence it is difficult to comprehend the import of the Sutras. The three Bhashyakaras, Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva have explained the import of Sutras in favour of their respective doctrines. In this book, Shri Raghavendra Katti has made an objective study of the Sutras in Chapters I and II, following the plan of Sri Madhvacharya. He gives the details of the plan of samanvaya in the first chapter and the refutation of the doctrines of the other schools in the second.

Shri Raghavendra Katti summarizing these topics presents his conclusion. He has made use of Panini Sutras and Jaimini Sutras to fix the import of Brahmasutras. In the introduction, he has pointed out that Dr. V.S. Ghate’s analysis of Brahmasutras is quite inadequate as he disposes off five Bhashyakaras’ views in two or three sentences on each Sutra.

The present author presents a detailed study of each Sutra. This enables research scholars and students to comprehend the import of Sutras accurately.

I hereby record my appreciation of his scholarly work which is very useful for research students and scholars.

Prof. K.T. Pandurangi

Former Professor of Sanskrit