Bannanje Govindacharya

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Shri Bannanje Govindacharya (Kannada:ಬನ್ನಂಜೆ ಗೋವಿಂದಾಚಾರ್ಯ ) is one of the foremost Vedic and Sanskrit scholars in the world today. He hails from Bannanje locality of Udupi in Karnataka, India. He was born in 1936. He is in particular one of the greatest living experts on the Madhva Tathwa Shastras or Madhva philosophy. He is best known for his pravachanas or discourses which are extremely popular among Kannadigas all over the world. Though his pravachanas ( Discourse )have made him a household name among Kannadigas his contributions to Vedic scholarship goes far beyond that. He is the author of numerous translations and commentaries both in Sanskrit and Kannada of the Vedic texts. His literary achievements also include his translation and commentaries of the complete texts of Shri Madhwacharya.

Contents 1 Early life 2 His works 2.1 Publications edited 2.2 Translation of major Sanskrit works into Kannada 2.3 Short commentaries in Sanskrit 2.4 Detailed commentaries in Sanskrit 2.5 Translation of sanskrit to kannada 2.6 Other contributions 3 Recognition and honours 4 Conferences attended 5 References

[edit] Early life

He started his study of the vedic texts and scriptures under his father Tarkakesari S. Narayanacharya and His Holiness Shri Vidyamanya tirtha swamiji of Palimaru Matha. But the person who shaped Shri Bannanje's future was the late Shri Vidyasamudra Tirtha Swamiji of Kaneyur Matha

[edit] His works

Shri Bannanje Govindacharya has many contributions to Vedic scholarship to his name. He has authored numerous commentaries, translations and original works on the subject. He has also contributed hundreds of articles in magazines and journals. He also travels all over India and around the world giving discourses in Indian philosophy and Hindu scriptures.

[edit] Publications edited

Works of madhwa : This monumental work is a painstakingly crafted reconstruction of the complete commentary on Madhwa's works by Shri Hrishikesha Tirtha, a direct disciple of Shri Madhwacharya of the 13th CE. It comprises 2000 pages in five volumes complete with footnotes and colophons. Two other works of Shri Madhwacharya, Thithinirnaya and Nyasa Paddhathi which were unknown were discovered and included in this work.

[edit] Translation of major Sanskrit works into Kannada

Apart from the Vedic texts, Shri Bannanje has also translated several other Sanskrit works into Kannada. These include,

• Bana Bhattana kadambari - A translation of Bana Bhatta's novel
• Kalidasa's Shakuntala
• Shudraka's Mrichakatika
• Bhavabhuti's Uttaramacharita
• Mahashweta's Sanskrit stories
• Several Sanskrit poems.

[edit] Short commentaries in Sanskrit

• Anandamala of shri trivikramarya dasa
• Vayu Stuti of Shri Trivikrama Pandita
• Vishnu Stuti of Shri Trivikrama Pandita
• Chaturdashastotra – different stotras in Sanskrit
• Raghavendra stotra
• Jayathirtha stuti
• vada ratnavali of Shri Vishudasacharya
• A philosophical dialectic in Sanskrit
• Short commentaries for six upanishads with commentaries of Trivikramarya Dasa

[edit] Detailed commentaries in Sanskrit

Some of Bannanje's detailed commentaries in Sanskrit include,

• Teeka on Mahabharata Tatparya (yamaka bharatha) by Shri Madhwacharya
• Teeka on Shri Sumadhwavijaya of Narayana Pandita
• Tippani on bhagavata tatparya by shri madhwacharya

[edit] Translation of sanskrit to kannada

• Purusha sukta
• Shri sukta
• Shiva stuti, Narashimha stuti
• Talavakaropanishad (Kenopanishad)
• Krishnamritamaharnava of Shri Madhwacharya
• Tantra sara sangraha of Shri Madhwacharya
• Sangraha Ramayana of Shri Narayana Panditacharya
• Madhwa Ramayana
• Parashara kanda para tattva (Kannada rendering of Shri Vishu Purana)
• Prameya nava malika of Shri Narayana Panditacharya
• Anu Madhwa Charita & Sampradaya paddhati
• Mangalashtaka of Shri Rajarajeshwara yati
• Yajneeya mantropanishat (Ishavasya)
• Bhagavad Gita
• Ananda Thirthara Bhakti Geetegalu (Kannada rendering of Shri Madhwacharya's Sanskrit devotional songs)

[edit] Other contributions

Apart from his voluminous writing, Bannanje has also contributed more than 800 articles on various important issues are published in different books, journals and magazines. He also served as the editor at Udayavani early in his life.He has written book on life of Shree Madhwa acharya called Acharya Madhva: Baduku-Bareha published by RastraKavi Govinda Pai Samshodhana Kendra,Udupi.

Another notable contribution of his is to the Indian and Kannada film industries. He served as the consultant expert for G V Iyer's movies on Adi Shankaracharya, Shri Madhwacharya, Sri Ramanujacharya and the Bhagawad Geeta (A Sankrit Movie). For the movie on Adi Shankaracharya and Madhwacharya he also doubled as the script and dialogues writer.

All his other contributions notwithstanding, Bannanje is best known and is a household name among Kannadigas for his Pravachanas. His Pravachanas are extremely popular all over Karnataka and among Kannadigas around the world.

[edit] Recognition and honours

Bannanje has won numerous awards and various titles have been conferred on him by esteemed institutions. Some of these include

• The state award conferred by the Government of Karnataka for his meritorious service and scholarship in Vedic iterature and philosophy.
• Vidya Vachaspati - by Shri Admar Mutt swamiji, Udupi
• Pratibhambudhi - conferred on him by Puttige Mutt and Palimar Mutt swamijis
• Shastra savyasachi - a title conferred by Akhila Bharata Madhwa Maha Mandala, Bengalooru
• Shri Krishanugraha Prashasthi - an award presented by Pejavara Mutt swamiji
• Sahitya sarvabhouma - saraswata maha vishwa vidyalaya, Bengalooru
• Samshodhana Vichakshana : by shri admar & shri palimar mutt
• Pandita Ratna : by palimar mutt swamiji
• Pandita shiromani - by Pratibha Ranga, Shivamogga
• Pandita Ratna : by Dwarakanath swamji of Partagali Gokarna Mutt
• Vidya Ratnakara - title conferred by Shri Palimar Mutt swamiji
• The Academy of General Education, Manipal presented him a fellowship for the meritorious service and scholarship in Indian religion and philosophy.

[edit] Conferences attended

• Participated in world conference on religion & peace held in prinston usa in 1979.
• Participated in World Sanskrit Conference in Delhi in 1980’s.
• Was president to Sanskrit Parishat of South Canara.
• Served as President of All India Madhwa Sammelanna in Chennai in 1995.
• Served as President of the Sahitya Sammelanna in Udupi in 2001.
• Participated in number of poetic symposia and debates.

[edit] References

• Guru Govindaacharya