Defending God in Sixteenth-Century India

This book is the first in-depth study of the Śaiva oeuvre of the celebrated polymath Appaya Dīkṣita (1520-1593). Jonathan Duquette documents the rise to prominence and scholarly reception of Śivādvaita Vedānta a Sanskrit-language school of philosophical theology which Appaya single-handedly<br>established thus securing his reputation as a legendary advocate of Śaiva religion in early modern India. Based to a large extent on hitherto unstudied primary sources in Sanskrit Duquette offers new insights on Appaya's early polemical works and main source of Śivādvaita exegesis Śrīkaṇṭha's<br>Brahmamīmāmsābhāṣya; identifies Appaya's key intellectual influences and opponents in his reconstruction of Śrīkaṇṭha's theology; and highlights some of the key arguments and strategies he used to make his ambitious project a success. Centred on his magnum opus of Śivādvaita Vedānta the<br>Śivārkamanidīpikā this book demonstrates that Appaya's Śaiva oeuvre was mainly directed against Viśiṣtādvaita Vedānta the dominant Vaiṣṇava school of philosophical theology in his time and place. A far-reaching study of the challenges of Indian theism this book opens up new possibilities for our<br>understanding of religious debates and polemics in early modern India as seen through the lenses of one of its most important intellectuals.<br>