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96
The Višistā-dvaita School
[CH. becomes necessary. Gopinātha Rāu refers also to a Sanskrit inscription in the middle of the tenth century, in which it is stated that the author of the verses was a disciple of Srīnātha. If this Srinātha is the same as Nāthamuni, then the computation of Nāthamuni's date as falling in the tenth century is quite correct. He had eleven disciples, of whom Puņdarīkākṣa, Karukānātha and Srikrsna Lakşminātha were the most prominent. He wrote three works, Nyāya-tattva, Puruşa-ninnaya and Yoga-rahasya". Nāthamuni is also described as a great yogin who practised the yoga of eight accessories (astānga-yoga)? The Prapannāmta says that he died by entering into yoga in the city of Āgangā (probably Gangaikondaşodapuram). Gopi-nātha, however, thinks that he could not have died in that city, for it was not founded by Rajendracola, otherwise called Gangaikondasola, before 1024, which must be later than the date of Nāthamuni. Nāthamuni lived probably in the reign of Parāntaka Cola I, and died before or in the reign of Parāntaka Cola II, i.e. he lived eighty or ninety years in the middle of the tenth century. He had made an extensive tour in Northern India as far as Mathurā and Badari-nātha and also to Dvārakā and Puri. Srikrsna Lakşminātha, disciple of Nāthamuni, wrote an extensive work on the doctrine of prapatti. He was born at a place called Krsnamangala. He was well-versed in the Vedas, and was a specialist in Vedānta and also a great devotee, who constantly employed himself in chanting the name of Vişnu (nāmasankirtana-rataḥ). He used often to go about naked and live on food that was thrown to him. The hagiologists say that he entered into the image of the temple and became one with God. Punda
The Nyāya-tattva is referred to by Venkatanātha in his Nyāya-parisuddhi (p. 13) as a work in which Gautama's Nyāya-sūtras were criticized and refuted:
bhagavan-nātha-munibhir nyāya-tattva-samāhraya aradhirya' kşapūdādin nyabundhi nyāya-paddhatih
Nyāya-parisuddhi, p. 13. 2 The practice of aștānga-yoga was not a new thing with Näthamuni. In giving an account of Tiru-marișai Pirān, also called Bhaktisāra, the Prapannāmrta says that he first became attached to the god Siva and wrote many Tamil works on Saiva doctrines; but later on the saint Maharya initiated him into Vaişnavism and taught him aştānga-yoga, through which he realized the great truths of Vaişnavism. He then wrote many works in Tamil on Vaisnavism. Bhakti-sāra also wrote a scholarly work, refuting the views of other opponents, which is known as Tattvärtha-sära, Bhakti-sāra also used to practise aştangayoga and was learned in all the branches of Indian philosophy. Bhakti-sära had a disciple named Kanikrsna, who wrote many extremely poetical verses or hymns in adoration of Vişnu. Kula-sekhara Peru-māl is also said to have practised yoga.
