[Advaita-l] On Vedanta Desika's Seshwara Mimamsa. Tamil. MM Sri Mani Dravid Sastrigal

[Sundar Rajan]

Namaste Raghav Kumar-Ji.
Fortunately you don’t have to know Tamil.

Here is the summary from Gemini (Google). Just paste the link and ask it to summarize.



Summary:
In this video, Mm. Prof. Dr. Mani Dravid Sastrigal delivers a lecture on Śeśvara Mīmāmsā by Śrī Vedānta Deśika at the Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute. The discourse focuses on how Vedānta Deśika harmonized the Pūrva Mīmāmsā (ritual action) and Uttara Mīmāmsā (knowledge/Vedanta) into a single cohesive system.
Summary of the Lecture
 * Context of the Work: The speaker explains that Śeśvara Mīmāmsā was written to address the misconception that the Mīmāmsā school is atheistic (Nirīśvara). Vedānta Deśika argues that the original sutras of Jaimini do not deny God; rather, later commentators created that impression [15:19].
 * The 20-Chapter Unity: Deśika views the entire inquiry as a single 20-chapter shastra:
   * 12 Chapters: Jaimini’s Pūrva Mīmāmsā (Karma/Rituals) [20:05].
   * 4 Chapters: Saṅkarṣa Kāṇḍa or Devatā Kāṇḍa (Nature of Deities) [20:20].
   * 4 Chapters: Vyāsa’s Brahma Sūtras (Knowledge of Brahman) [20:38].
 * Correction of Commentaries: The speaker highlights that Deśika does not blame the original Sage Jaimini for "atheism." Instead, he critiques the commentators (like Śabara or Kumārila Bhaṭṭa) for introducing flaws or separating the two inquiries [27:15]. He compares this to a crystal appearing red because of a nearby hibiscus flower—the "flaw" is external to the crystal itself [28:38].
 * Detailed Analysis of the First Sutra: Much of the lecture analyzes the opening sutra, "Athāto Dharma Jijñāsā" (Now, therefore, the inquiry into Dharma) [53:39]. The speaker explains Deśika's view that the word "Dharma" here is an upalakṣaṇa (illustrative term) for the entire Vedic teaching, including Brahman [01:03:36].
 * Purpose of Study: The ultimate goal of studying the ritualistic portions is to realize that ritual fruits are temporary. This realization creates the necessary "dispassion" (vairāgya) required to begin the inquiry into the eternal Brahman (Brahma Jijñāsā) [01:01:05].
Video Transcript Outline
 * [01:21] Introduction to the Endowment and the legacy of Vedānta Deśika.
 * [12:02] Prof. Mani Dravid begins the technical discourse on the text Śeśvara Mīmāmsā.
 * [14:18] Discussion on Kumārila Bhaṭṭa’s attempts to bring Mīmāmsā back to an "theistic" path.
 * [19:51] Explanation of the 20-chapter structure of the unified Mīmāmsā system.
 * [25:24] The concept of Śeśvara (with God) vs. Nirīśvara (without God) interpretations of the sutras.
 * [34:15] The logical sequence from Vedic study to Rituals, then Deities, and finally Brahman.
 * [53:39] Deep dive into the first sutra and the meaning of "Atha" (Now/Afterwards).
 * [01:01:05] How the study of Karma leads to the necessity of Vedanta.
 * [01:05:50] Concluding remarks and vote of thanks.

Sent from my iPhone 17 Pro Max

> On Jan 21, 2026, at 5:06 AM, Raghav Kumar Dwivedula via Advaita-l <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> 
> Namaste Subbuji
> I can follow Tamil but slowly. But my first impression on your thread title
> is - I did not know viśiṣṭādvaita (at least of one type) is called
> seśvara-mīmāmsā ie., mīnāmsā with īśvara added to the mix.
> 
> The svarga idea of mīmāmsā is repurposed as vaikunṭha. And the status of
> Indra is re-assigned to śrī mahāviṣṇu.
> 
> 
> Om
> Raghav
> 
>> On Wed, 21 Jan 2026 at 1:49 PM, V Subrahmanian via Advaita-l <
>> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>> 
>> https://www.youtube.com/live/MJ9E64s_MlA
>> 
>> On Vedanta Desika's Seshwara Mimamsa. Tamil.
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