99. Rudradhara
Volume I: Part II pp. 840–842
Rudradhara, a distinguished Maithila writer, made significant contributions to Dharmaśāstra literature during the medieval period, with his intellectual activity flourishing demonstrably between the years 1425 and 1460 of the Christian era. His work places him firmly within a rich tradition of scholarly output from the Mithila region. Among his notable compositions are the *Śrāddhaviveka*, the *Śuddhiviveka*, the *Vratapaddhati*, and the *Varṣakṛtya*. Of these, the *Śrāddhaviveka* holds particular prominence as his most celebrated and influential work. It is widely recognized for its detailed and systematic exposition on the various intricacies and injunctions pertaining to śrāddha ceremonies, making it a definitive reference in its field. The collective body of his works thus demonstrates a comprehensive engagement with diverse aspects of dharma, spanning topics from ritual purity and specific vows to annual observances.
— Synopsis by P.V. Kane, from History of Dharmaśāstra
99. Rudradhara
99. Rudradhara
This is a well-known Maithila writer on dharmaśāstra, who composed several workṣ His Śuddhi-viveka has been published several times (at Benares in 1866, in 1878, and by the Veńkaṭeśvara Press in Bombay, samvat 1978 ). That work is divided into three paricchedas and deals with purification from impurity on birth and death, the persons liable to undergo purifications, the mean- ing of the word putra, purification of the body and of various substances when polluted, purification of cooked food and water and women in their menseṣ He tells us that after1266 having examined seven works ( nibandhas ) on Śuddhi and being encoura- ged by his father and brother he composed the Śuddhiviveka. He further says that he made the effort for the benefit of those who were not disposed to go through such works as the Ratnākara, Pārijāta, Mitākṣarā and the Hāralatā.1267 Besides these he mentions the Ācārādarśa, Śuddhipradīpa, Śuddhi-bimba, Śrīdattopādhyāya, Smṛtisāra and Harihara.
The Śrāddhaviveka of Rudradhara is the most famous of his workṣ ( It was printed in the Kashi Sanskrit Series in samvat 1993 ( i. e. 1936-7 A. D. ) and the page references are made to that edition ). The work is divided into four paricchedaṣ He first defines śrāddha, and then treats of several topics, viz. the varieties of śrāddha, the procedure at śrāddhas, the mantras that are recited, the proper time and place for śrāddhas, the Brāhmaṇas worthy to be invited at śrāddha and the proper food etc. Among the numerous works and authors referred to in the work the 99. Rudradhara
undermentioned ones deserve notice.1 He refers to his own Śuddhiviveka as already written (p. 48). Several Purāṇas are mentioned such as the Devīpurāṇa (pp. 14–15, 32), Brahmapurāṇa (several times and 7 verses from it are quoted on p. 33), Matsyapurāṇa (p. 37 five verses quoted), Vāyu (p. 37).
In several places he tells us that he follows a different tradition on certain matters from that of the Pitṛbhakti or of the Sugatisopāna. He points out that the prasātikā is a kind of grain known in Madhyadeśa as Śāṭhīlā.2
For his Vratapaddhati, vide Mitra’s Notices, vol. VI, p. 15, No. 1995. He says that he was urged by his brother’s advice to write the work and that he follows the Samayapradīpa.3 From the colophon to the Śuddhiviveka it appears that Rudradhara’s father’s name was Lakṣmīdhara and his elder brother’s name was Haladhara.
Another work of his is the Varṣakṛtya which deals with festivals and fastṣ
He was the son of Mahāmahopādhyāya Lakṣmīdhara and youngest brother of Haladhara. His works are quoted by Vācaspati in his Dvaitanirṇaya, by Govindānanda in the Śrāddha- kriyākaumudī, by Raghunandana (as in vol. I, Tithitattva pp. 136, 137, 186, Śrāddhatattva p. 226, Prāyaścitta p. 542; vol. II. Śuddhi- tattva pp. 265, 272 ), in several of his tattvas, by Kamalākara and Nīlakaṇṭha.
As Rudradhara mentions the Ratnākara, the Smṛtisāra, Śrīdattoppādhyāya and the Śrāddhaviveka of Śūlapāṇi, he is certainly later than 1425 A. D. A mṣ of his Vratapaddhati is dated in Lakṣmaṇa saṁvat 344 i. e. 1463 A. D.4 Besides he is quoted by Vācaspati and Govindānanda. Therefore he must have flourished between 1425 and 1460 A. D.
Raghunandana several times mentions Rudradhara in his Smṛtitattva viz. (in vol. I), Tithi pp. 136-137 ( on Kojāgara Paurṇimā ), p. 186 ( Kuberarāpūjā ), Śrāddha p. 226, Prāyaś. p. 542; (in vol. II) Śuddhi pp. 265 ( criticized ), 272, 471. Vide M. M. Chakravarti in JASB vol. XI (1915) pp. 404-405 for some information on Rudradhara.
The Rudradhara who was a pupil of Cāṇḍeśvara and author of the Kṛtyacandrikā, the Vivādacandrikā and the Śrāddha- candrikā appears to be a different author.