Manameyodaya: A Critical Study

Mimamsa as a separate school of Indian philosophy deals with the ritualistic part of the Vedic literature, the earliest extant work of the school being the Sutras of Jaimini (200 BC). Though earlier writers like Sabara refer to the subject matter of the system by words like Vicara, Nyaya etc. meaning investigating into the real import of the Vedic sentences, by the time of Kumarila Bhatta (600-720 AD) the word Mimamsa became an established name of the school. Manameyodaya is a work of combined authorship the first part Mana, being composed by Narayana Bhatta. The author left in unfinished though he intended to write the second part as is evidenced by his statement atasta dubhayam brumah in the introductory verse of the work. The Meya part was composed by Narayana Pandita. Though it is considered to be an abridgement of Nititattvavirbhava of Cidananda, the work envisages Narayana Bhatta’s profound scholarship in all systems of Indian philosophy and while presenting Bhatta views he also refutes the views of opponents like Prabhakara, Nyaya, Bauddha, and Samkara.