Panditaraja Jagannatha (PJ) PJ was undoubtedly one of the few scholars who have been remembered for their ambidextrous skill in scholarly debates and graceful poetic compositions. He was a scholar and poet par excellence who has niched for himself a name in golden letters in Sanskrit literature. His acumen may be observed in his magnum opus Rasagangadhara in which he has demonstrated his prowess as a scholar and an adept poet. He is undoubtedly a gem of Andhra whose fame reached the farthest regions of India during his time. He excelled many with his ease and grace in poetry.
PJ knew the Sanskrit Grammar of Panini and Patanjali. He also knew other schools of Grammar. His father himself was a great scholar of all shastras who taught PJ the essence of all shastras. During his life time be composed many poems and wrote many treatises covering wide range of topics.
Manoramakucamardanam (MKM) This is a small treatise on Sanskrit Grammar, written in a crispy manner to refute the theories contained in the Praudhamanorama (PM) of Bhattoji Diksita (BD). BD studied entire Mahabhasya of Patanjali in Sanskrit Grammar from Sheshashrikrishna and later wrote the PM to refute his teacher's theories. Among many works of BD, the most popular are the Vaiyakarana Siddhantakaumudi (VSK) and Sabdakaustubha (SK) along with the PM.
PM written obviously after the VSK was aimed at criticizing the views of Sheshashrikrishna. Its purpose was to prove the flawless nature of VSK and the authenticity of the refutations contained in it, of the views of earlier scholars of Sanskrit Grammar. Thus we find the Kasika, Nyasa, Padamanjari, Dhatuvrtti, Prakriyakaumudi, Prasada vyakhya and other being criticized in harsh terms by BD in PM.
During his time BD may not have most probably seen any opponent of his views, but after his demise some Grammarians ventured on a task of writing direct books criticizing the views of BD. But, it did not last long. With the advent of Nageshabhatta (NB), the science of Sanskrit Grammar began to breathe a very fresh air completely rejuvenating the system of BD. In the works of NB, the views of BD got new lease of life and then began an unbroken tradition of BD through vidyanath Payagunde and other deserving students of NB who upheld the theories of BD only. Thus the criticism leveled against BD had found no patron thereafter and got relegated later.
The PM and Sabdaratna The PM, meant primarily to justify the logic behind number of shastric problems discussed in the VSK and solutions provided by BD in it, reflects the profound knowledge of BD in the matters of Sanskrit Grammar. A neophyte cannot dare enter this impassable fort of PM. For such a student the Sabdaratna was written by Haridikshita, the reputed teacher of Nagesha Bhatta. The legacy of PM and Sabdaratna is very rich and synthetic. In these works do we come across a fine blend of scholarly treatment of subject and dedication to the subject.
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