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Madhava Acharya

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MADHAVA ACHARYA ( fl. c. 1380), Hindu statesman and philosopher, lived at the court of Vijayanagar (the modern Humpi in the district of Bellary), the vigorous Southern Hindu kingdom that so long withstood Mahommedan influence and aggression. His younger brother Sayana (d. 1387) was associated with him in the administration and was a famous commentator on the Rigveda. Sayana's commentaries were influenced by and dedicated to Madhava, who is best known as the author of the Sarvadarsana Samgraha (Compendium of Speculations). With remarkable mental detachment he places himself in the position of an adherent of sixteen distinct systems. Madhava also wrote a commentary on the Mimarpsa Sutras. He died as abbot of the monastery of Sringeri.