Vacaspati Misra c. 900 – c. 980
Vacaspati Misra (c. 900 – c. 980) was an Indian philosopher of the Medieval era, associated with Indian Philosophy and Vedanta.
Vacaspati Misra was an Indian philosopher of the tenth century and the most learned commentator of his age, a Maithila scholar who wrote authoritative commentaries on every major school of classical Indian philosophy except the Buddhist and the Carvaka, and was honored with the title sarvatantrasvatantra, the master of all systems. His Bhamati commentary on Sankara's Brahma Sutra Bhasya gave its name to the Bhamati subschool of Advaita Vedanta, while his Tattvavaisaradi on the Yoga Sutras and his Nyayavarttikatatparyatika on the Nyaya tradition shaped the orthodox readings of those schools for centuries afterward.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Indian
- Era
- Medieval
- Movements
- Indian Philosophy, Vedanta
Selected quotes
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Attributed to Vacaspati Misra:
“He who would commentate must first stand within the system he interprets.”
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Attributed to Vacaspati Misra:
“There is no philosophical school whose internal coherence does not deserve a careful reading.”
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Attributed to Vacaspati Misra:
“Brahman is the inner ruler in every appearance.”
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Attributed to Vacaspati Misra:
“The Bhamati commentary is offered as light, not as legislation.”
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Attributed to Vacaspati Misra:
“Tradition lives by its commentators, or it does not live at all.”
Frequently asked about Vacaspati Misra
- When did Vacaspati Misra live?
- Vacaspati Misra was born in c. 900 and died in c. 980.
- Where was Vacaspati Misra from?
- Vacaspati Misra was an Indian philosopher of the Medieval era.
- What philosophical movements is Vacaspati Misra associated with?
- Vacaspati Misra was associated with Indian Philosophy and Vedanta.
- What was Vacaspati Misra known for?
- Vacaspati Misra was an Indian philosopher of the tenth century and the most learned commentator of his age, a Maithila scholar who wrote authoritative commentaries on every major school of classical Indian philosophy except the Buddhist and the Carvaka, and was honored with the title sarvatantrasvatantra, the master of all systems.
- How many quotes are attributed to Vacaspati Misra?
- There are 5 attributed quotations from Vacaspati Misra in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.