B. N. K. Sharma
B. N. K. Sharma | |
|---|---|
Sahitya Academy Award (1963) | |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Religious Studies |
| Institutions | Bombay |
| Main interests | Dvaita Vedanta, Hindu philosophy |
Bhavani Narayanrao Krishnamurti Sharma (9 June 1909 – 2 July 2005), commonly known as B. N. K. Sharma or B. N. Krishnamurti Sharma, was an Indian writer, scholar, professor, and
Born in a
Sharma is one of the eminent scholars who wrote the critical appreciations of prominent Haridasa saints such as Purandara Dasa, Kanaka Dasa and others.[5]
B. N. K. Sharma's students included such scholars as K. T. Pandurangi, a winner of Rashtrapati Award; C. S. Venkateshan,a scholar and professor; D. N. Shanbhag, author and scholar; and S. K. Bhavani (his son).
Life and career
Early life
B.N.K. Sharma was born on 9 June 1909 in a
Academic career
B.N.K. Sharma had his primary education at the Government School in
Sharma started his teaching career as a lecturer at Annamalai University at the age of 22 in 1931 until 1938. In 1938 he became principal of Government Sanskrit College in Thiruvayur until 1948. In 1948 he worked as a research scholar in Vishveshvaranand Vedic Research Institute in Punjab. In 1950, he started working as a principal at Poornaprajna Sanskrit College in Udupi. In 1952 he became Principal Dr. A. V. Baliga College, Kumta for a short time of one year. In 1953 he finally landed in Maharashtra, where he was appointed as professor and Head of the Department of Sanskrit in Ruparel College in Mumbai and retired in 1969.[1][8][9]
Works
Comics
B. N. K. Sharma also rendered script for a comic book by the name "Madhvacharya: A Vaishnava Saint-Philosopher" of Amar Chitra Katha, a comic book series for which the editor was Anant Pai and the illustrator was H. S. Chavan. It was published in 1967. It was republished many times.[10]
Literary works
Sharma authored more than 25 classical works and over 150 research papers on Vedic history, and Vedanta. He was an expert in Dvaita Vedanta. Some of his notable works include:[11]
- Philosophy of Śrī Madhvācārya. Motilal Banarsidass (2014 Reprint). 1962. ISBN 978-8120800687.
- History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature: From the Earliest Beginnings to Our Own Times, 3rd Edition. Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint). 1960. ISBN 978-8120815759.
- The Brahmasūtras and Their Principal Commentaries A Critical Exposition Vol I, Vol II, Vol III. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers (2008 Reprint). 1971. ISBN 978-8121500357.
- Madhva's Aupaniṣadam Darśanam. Dvaita Vedanta Studies and Research Foundation. 1983.
- The Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad Expounded from Śrī Madhvācārya's Perspective. Dvaita Vedanta Studies and Research Foundation. 1988.
- Dvaita Philosophy as Expounded by Śrī Madhvācārya. University of Madras. 1961.
- Śrī Madhva's Teachings in His Own Words. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. 1970.
- Bhagavad Gītā Bhāṣya of Śrī Madhvācārya. Anandatirtha Prathistama, Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha. 1989.
- Lectures on Vedānta. Karnatak University. 1973.
- Nyāyasudhā of Jayatīrtha (3 Vols.). Vishwa Madhwa Maha Parishat. 2001.
- Festivals of India. Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, Government of India. 1977. ISBN 978-0836402834.
- Advaitasiddhi Vs Nyāyāmṛta: An Up To Date Critical Re-Appraisal. Akhila Bhārata Mādhva Mahamandal. 1994.
- History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature
"Sharma is known for several definitive works on
Dvaita : this one maintains his high standards of scholarship and style.[12]"
— Indologist Karl Potter
Dr. B. N. Krishnamurti Sharma is the author of "History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature: From the Earliest Beginnings to Our Own Times", (Motilal Banarsidass, 1962). For this research work, Dr. B. N. Krishnamurti Sharma was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award, the highest national literary award by the Government of India in 1963.[13][14]
"Dr. B.N.K. Sharma gives in this work a comprehensive account of the Dvaita School of Vedanta and Its Literature, from the earliest beginning to our own times. His work fills gap in the literature on
Madhva has not been written. So, Dr. Sharma with his equipment in Sanskrit and competence in philosophy, has given us this work".
- Advaitasiddhi Vs Nyāyāmṛta - An Up To Date Critical Re-Appraisal
Dr. B N. K. Sharma is the author of "Advaitasiddhi Vs Nyāyāmṛta: An Up To Date Critical Re-Appraisal". (Anandatirtha Prathisthana, 1994)
"All of us who are interested in Indian philosophy and in Vedanta, in particular, are greatly indebted to Dr. B.N.K. Sharma. He has in this volume added to this magisterial History of Dvaita School (2nd Edition 1981) and other writing with an exposition and unfolding of
Dvaitin tradition still produced important criticisms of the Non-Dualist epistemology and metaphysics. The pointed to certain instabilities in the Advaita philosophy. Dr. Sharma incesively points to the contradiction in supporting that God is after all a deceptive magician. Both western and tradition Indian scholars are in his debt for making the Nyayamruta available to a modern public".
- The Brahmasutras and Their Principal Commentaries A Critical Exposition
Dr. B N. K. Sharma is the author of The Brahmasutras and Their Principal Commentaries A Critical Exposition of 3 volumes, (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1974)
"For various reasons
Dvaita is reflected in a fully balanced way in which he shows the positions of Samkara, Ramanuja and Madhvacharya (thought he also of course draws on other positions-Indian both ancient and modern and Western)".— Professor Ninian Smart[18]
Awards and honours
B. N. K. Sharma won numerous awards during the course of his literary career.
Legacy
Sharma's greatest achievement was making Dvaita philosophy accessible to the outside world through his English works and literature. He is regarded as one of the leading Sanskrit and English language writers, along with
"It is gratifying that so much research and writing exists about
Dvaita school in two volumes is one of the most important contributions to the history of Indian philosophy. He is also of course known for his more popular writings. But perhaps what is essence is his most vital contribution is his ability to look at Vedanta in perspective".— Professor Ninian Smart[18]
Personal life
Family
B.N.K. Sharma married Hemalatha, who hails from the Myleripalem Jagirdar family belonging to the same community. The couple has one son and one daughter named Sudhindra Krishnamurti Bhavani (popularly known as Dr S.K. Bhavani), who is also a scholar and author of many works and Vibha. His son S.K.Bhavani married Lakshmi and had a son named Purandar who is also a scholar. Sharma's daughter Vibha was married to Srinivasan.[21] Sharma's grandson Purandar Bhavani married Asha.[21]
B. N. K. Sharma's son S. K. Bhavani worked as a professor at the Department of Sanskrit in Somaiyya College, Bombay and later as the principal of the college. S.K. Bhavani wrote a commentary on
Views
B.N.K. Sharma was a follower of
References
- ^ a b c d e Sinha & Choudhury 1996, p. 21.
- ^ Sinha & Choudhury 1996, p. 22.
- ^ Akademi 1990, p. 407.
- ^ a b c d e Sharma 2000, p. 3.
- ^ a b c Moraes 1972, p. 261.
- ^ "Hidden histories: A saint in Coimbatore". The Hindu. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Sharma 2000, p. 655.
- ^ a b Lal 1969, p. 946.
- ^ Myers 2013, p. 11.
- ISBN 978-8184820515.
- ^ Potter 1995, p. 1173-1174.
- ^ Potter 1988, p. 106.
- ^ Sharma 2000, p. xvii.
- ^ Datta 1987, p. 306.
- ^ Sharma 2000, p. vii.
- ^ Smart 2009, p. 375.
- ^ Sharma 1994, p. x.
- ^ a b Sharma 1974, p. vii.
- ^ Betty 1978, p. 11.
- ^ Balasubramanian 2003, p. 448.
- ^ a b Sharma 2001, p. 6.
- ^ Sharma 2000, p. 97.
- ^ Sharma 1978, p. xxvi.
- ^ Sharma 2000, p. 549.
Bibliography
- Potter, Karl H. (1995). Encyclopedia of Indian philosophies. 1, Bibliography : Section 1, Volumes 1-2. Motilal Banarsidass Publications. ISBN 978-8120803084.
- Sharma, B.N.K (2000). A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature, 3rd Edition. Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint). ISBN 978-8120815759.
- Sinha, Biswajit; Choudhury, Ashok Kumar (1996). Encyclopaedia of Indian Writers: Akademi Laurels. Eastern Book Linkers. ISBN 9788186339312.
- Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti (2001). My Latest Four Research Papers. The Author.
- Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti (1978). The Brahmasūtras and Their Principal Commentaries: A Critical Exposition, Volume 3. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. ISBN 9788121500357.
- Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-8126018031.
- Smart, Ninian (2009). Ninian Smart on World Religions: Traditions and the challenges of modernity. I. Individual traditions. Buddhism. 'Mysticism and scripture in Theravāda Buddhism'. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 9780754666387.
- Sharma, B.N. Krishnamurti (1994). Advaitasiddhi Vs Nyāyāmṛta: An Up To Date Critical Re-Appraisal. Akhila Bhārata Mādhva Mahamandal.
- Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti (1974). The Brahmasūtras and Their Principal Commentaries: A Critical Exposition, Volume 2. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. ISBN 9788121500340.
- Akademi, Sahitya (1990). Sahitya Akademi awards: books and writers : 1955-1978. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 9788172010140.
- Potter, Karl H. (1988). Guide to Indian Philosophy. G.K. Hall Publishing. ISBN 9780816179046.
- Moraes, George Mark (1972). Historiography in Indian Languages: Dr. G.M. Moraes Felicitation Volume. Oriental Publishers.
- Balasubramanian, R. (2003). Theistic Vedānta, Volume 2, Part 3. Centre for Studies in Civilizations. ISBN 9788187586128.
- Betty, L. Stafford (1978). Vadiraja's Refutation of Sankara's Non-dualism: Clearing the Way for Theism. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 9788120831582.
- Lal, Sham (1969). The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Bennett, Coleman & Company.
- Myers, Michael (2013). Brahman:A Comparative Theology. Routledge. ISBN 9781136835728.
External links
- A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature
- Philosophy of Sri Madhvacharya (English)
- Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (English)
- Śrī Madhva's Teachings in His Own Words (English)
- Advaitasiddhi Vs Nyāyāmṛta: An Up To Date Critical Re-Appraisal (English)
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