Vijayīndra Tīrtha(also known as Vijayendra Tīrtha) (c.1517 -c.1614) was aDvaita philosopher and dialectician. A prolific writer and an unrelenting polemicist, he is said to have authored 104 treatises expounding the principles ofDvaita and defending it against attacks from the contemporary orthodox schools ofVedanta. He held the pontifical seat atKumbakonam under the rule ofThanjavur Nayaks where he participated in polemical discussions with theAdvaita philosopherAppayya Dikshita^[3] Inscriptions from that era record grants of villages received by Vijayindra for his triumph over theological debates .^[4] Legend ascribes to him mastery over 64 arts and his erudition, writes Sharma, "is evident from a few of his works bearing onPurva Mimamsa,Nyaya andKavya literature".^[1]

Almost nothing is known about his early life and family. Most of the information on Vijayindra is derived from a few inscriptions and two hagiographies:Rāghavendra Vijaya andGuruguṇastavana. Born as Vitthalācharya in aKannada-speakingDeshastha Madhva Brahmin family,^[5] he studiedVedanta,Mimamsa andNyaya under the philosopherVyasatirtha.^[6] He also received training inKavya (poetics),Natya (drama) andAlankara (rhetoric). Aged 25, he moved to Kumbakonam at the behest of Surendra Tirtha, the erstwhilepontiff of the Dhakshinadi Kavindra mutt.^{[note 1]} Vitthala eventually succeeded Surendra as the pontiff with the titleVijayīndra Tīrtha.^[7]Inscriptional evidence and traditional accounts note that Vijayindra received patronage fromAliya Rama Raya and grants fromSevappa Nayak ofTanjore.^[6][1] He was involved in severe polemical discussions with his rival and friendAppayya Dikshita, with several of his works dedicated to refuting the claims of Appayya.^[8] After his death in 1614, his mortal remains were enshrined in the mutt at Kumbakonam. He was succeeded bySudhindra Tirtha.

Vijayindra Tirtha is credited with as many as 104 literary works of which many are non-extant. A few that remain mainly consist of commentaries on the works ofVyasatirtha (Laghu Amoda) andMadhva (Tattvaprakasika Tippani), polemical works refuting the works ofAppayya Dikshita and several treatises dealing with the issue of compatibility ofDvaita withMimamsa (Chakra Mimamsa). A few poems and three dramatical works have been attributed to him as well.^[9]

104 works are attributed to Vijayindra of which only sixty are extant. Except for a few notable works, many remain unprinted. The manuscripts are preserved inmutts atNanjangud,Mantralayam andKumbakonam.

• Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti (2000).A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature, Vol. 2, 3rd Edition. Motilal Banarsidass.ISBN 978-8120815759.
• Hebbar, B.N (2005).The Sri-Krsna Temple at Udupi: The History and Spiritual Center of the Madhvite Sect of Hinduism. Bharatiya Granth Nikethan.ISBN 81-89211-04-8.
• Vriddhagirisan, V (1995).Nayaks of Tanjore. Asian Educational Services.ISBN 978-8120609969.
• Sarma, R. Nagaraja (1937).Reign of realism in Indian philosophy. National Press.
• Pandurangi, K.T (2004).Nyayadhvadipika. Dvaita Vedanta Studies and Research Foundation.
• Hebbar, B.N (2004).The Sri Krsna Temple at Udupi. Nataraj Books.ISBN 978-1881338505.
• Fischer, Elaine (2017).Hindu Pluralism: Religion and the Public Sphere in Early Modern South India. University of California Press.ISBN 9780520293014.
• Heras, Henry (1927).South India Under the Vijayanagara Empire: The Aravidu Dynasty, Volume 2. Cosmo.
• Mahalingam, T.V (1937).Administration and Social Life Under Vijayanagar: Administration. University of Madras.

• Vijayindra Tirtha and the origin of Kashi Math
• Biographical Sketch on Vijayindra Tirtha

• Vaishnavite religious leaders
• Dvaita Vedanta
• Dvaitin philosophers
• 1510s births
• 1590s deaths

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