https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=B._N._K._SharmaB. N. K. Sharma - Revision history2026-08-01T00:53:45ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=B._N._K._Sharma&diff=488659&oldid=prevLocweld at 05:51, 6 February 20262026-02-06T05:51:50Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Sanskrit writer from India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}<br />
{{Infobox scholar<br />
| honorific_prefix = <br />
| name = B. N. K. Sharma<br />
| image = B. N. Krishnamurti Sharma.jpg<br />
| alt =<br />
| caption =<br />
| birth_name = Bhavani Narayanrao Krishnamurti <br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1909|06|9|df=y}}{{Sfn|Sinha|Choudhury|1996|p=21}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[British Raj]]<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|07|2|1909|06|9|df=y}}<br />
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]<br />
| other_names =<br />
| known_for = <br />
| occupation = Scholar, professor<br />
| workplaces = [[Ruparel College]], [[Bombay]]<br />
| discipline = Religious Studies<br />
| main_interests = [[Dvaita Vedanta]], [[Hindu philosophy]]<br />
| alma_mater = {{plainlist| <br />
* [[University of Madras]]<br />
* [[Presidency College, Chennai|Presidency College]]<br />
}}<br />
| awards = [[Sahitya Academy Award]] (1963)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Bhavani Narayanrao Krishnamurti Sharma''' (9 June 1909 – 2 July 2005), commonly known as '''B. N. K. Sharma''' or '''B. N. Krishnamurti Sharma''', was an Indian writer, scholar, professor, and [[Indologist]]. Sharma was a professor and Head of the Department of Sanskrit in [[Ruparel College]], [[Mumbai|Bombay]] from (1953–1969). Sharma was one of the foremost exponents of [[Madhvacharya]]'s school of [[Dvaita Vedanta]]. B. N. K. Sharma learned the art of debates and [[Vedanta]] under [[Satyadhyana Tirtha]] of [[Uttaradi Math]]. Sharma travelled along with [[Satyadhyana Tirtha]] from (1930 - 1944), learned all philosophical knowledge from him and also used to clarify his doubts from Satyadhyana Tirtha.{{Sfn|Sinha|Choudhury|1996|p=22}}<br />
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Born in a [[Brahmin]] family of scholars and court pandits, Sharma authored more than 25 classical works and over 150 research papers on [[Vedanta]] in general and [[Dvaita Vedanta]] in particular. He attained national renown and recognition for his scholarly contribution to the [[Dvaita Vedanta]] literary treasure. His ''History of Dvaita School Of Vedanta And Its Literature'' is a monumental work which brought him the highest national literary distinction of the [[Sahitya Academy Award]] in 1963.{{Sfn|Akademi|1990|p=407}} Sharma was also the recipient of the [[President of India]]'s Award for Eminent Sanskrit Scholars in 1992 and the [[Government of Maharashtra]]'s Award for [[Sanskrit]] in 1993.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=3}}<br />
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Sharma is one of the eminent scholars who wrote the critical appreciations of prominent Haridasa saints such as [[Purandara Dasa]], [[Kanaka Dasa]] and others.{{Sfn|Moraes|1972|p=261}}<br />
<br />
==Life and career==<br />
===Early life===<br />
B.N.K. Sharma was born at the late [[British Raj]] on 9 June 1909 in a [[Kannada language|Kannada]]-speaking [[Madhva Brahmin]] family in [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Madras Presidency]], during the [[British Raj]] (present-day [[Tamil Nadu]]) in a family of Sanskrit Scholars of the former [[Cochin State]] of [[Kerala]]. He was brought up speaking in [[Kannada]] at home and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] outside. His mother Lakshmi Bai was a housewife and native of Salem, while his father B.S.Narayan Rao, a Sanskrit scholar was a native of [[Coimbatore]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/saint-vyasaraja-travelled-all-over-south-india-and-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-coimbatore-region/article7615714.ece|title=Hidden histories: A saint in Coimbatore|date=4 September 2015|work=The Hindu|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-date=30 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130121014/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/saint-vyasaraja-travelled-all-over-south-india-and-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-coimbatore-region/article7615714.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> B. N. K. Sharma's actual name is Bhavani Narayanrao Krishnamurti and Sharma is not part of his name. Due to Brahmin origins, people started calling him "Sharma" and later it became part of his name.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=3}}{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=655}}{{Sfn|Sinha|Choudhury|1996|p=21}}<br />
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===Academic career===<br />
B.N.K. Sharma had his primary education at the Government School in [[Kumbakonam]]. As a child he had "sharp intellect and acumen" with a great interest in literature and philosophy.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=3}} Sharma completed his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[Sanskrit]] from [[University of Madras]] in 1931 and [[Master of Arts]] degree in 1935 from [[Presidency College, Chennai]].{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=3}} Sharma received his [[Ph.D.]] from [[University of Madras]] in 1948 for his thesis on the origin and development of the [[Dvaita]] School of Vedanta and its literature.{{Sfn|Sinha|Choudhury|1996|p=21}}<br />
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Sharma started his teaching career as a lecturer at [[Annamalai University]] at the age of 22 in 1931 until 1938. In 1938 he became principal of Government Sanskrit College in Thiruvayur until 1948. In 1948 he worked as a research scholar in Vishveshvaranand Vedic Research Institute in [[Punjab]]. In 1950, he started working as a principal at Poornaprajna Sanskrit College in Udupi. In 1952 he became Principal [[Dr. A. V. Baliga College, Kumta]] for a short time of one year. In 1953 he finally landed in [[Maharashtra]], where he was appointed as professor and Head of the Department of Sanskrit in [[D. G. Ruparel College of Arts, Science and Commerce|Ruparel College]] in [[Mumbai]] and retired in 1969.{{Sfn|Sinha|Choudhury|1996|p=21}}{{Sfn|Lal|1969|p=946}}{{Sfn|Myers|2013|p=11}}<br />
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==Works==<br />
===Comics===<br />
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B. N. K. Sharma also rendered script for a comic book by the name "Madhvacharya: A Vaishnava Saint-Philosopher" of [[Amar Chitra Katha]], a comic book series for which the editor was [[Anant Pai]] and the illustrator was H. S. Chavan. It was published in 1967. It was republished many times.<ref>{{cite book|title=Madhvacharya:A Vaishnava Saint-Philosopher|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha Pvt. Ltd.|year=1971|isbn=978-8184820515}}</ref><br />
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===Literary works===<br />
Sharma authored more than 25 classical works and over 150 research papers on Vedic history, and Vedanta. He was an expert in [[Dvaita Vedanta]]. Some of his notable works include:{{Sfn|Potter|1995|p=1173-1174}}<br />
* {{cite book|title = Philosophy of Śrī Madhvācārya| publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (2014 Reprint) |isbn = 978-8120800687| year= 1962 }}<br />
* {{cite book|title = History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature: From the Earliest Beginnings to Our Own Times, 3rd Edition| publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint) |isbn = 978-8120815759| year= 1960}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=The Brahmasūtras and Their Principal Commentaries A Critical Exposition Vol I, Vol II, Vol III|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers (2008 Reprint) |year=1971|isbn=978-8121500357}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Madhva's Aupaniṣadam Darśanam|publisher=Dvaita Vedanta Studies and Research Foundation|year=1983}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=The Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad Expounded from Śrī Madhvācārya's Perspective|year=1988|publisher=Dvaita Vedanta Studies and Research Foundation}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Dvaita Philosophy as Expounded by Śrī Madhvācārya|publisher=[[University of Madras]]|year=1961}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Śrī Madhva's Teachings in His Own Words|publisher=[[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]]|year=1970}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Bhagavad Gītā Bhāṣya of Śrī Madhvācārya|publisher=Anandatirtha Prathistama, Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha|year=1989}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Lectures on Vedānta|publisher=Karnatak University|year=1973}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Nyāyasudhā of Jayatīrtha (3 Vols.)|publisher=Vishwa Madhwa Maha Parishat|year=2001}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Festivals of India|publisher=Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, Government of India|year=1977|isbn=978-0836402834}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Advaitasiddhi Vs Nyāyāmṛta: An Up To Date Critical Re-Appraisal|publisher= Akhila Bhārata Mādhva Mahamandal|year=1994}}<br />
<br />
;History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature<br />
{{Quote box |width=33% |align=right |quoted=1 |quote = "Sharma is known for several definitive works on [[Dvaita]] : this one maintains his high standards of scholarship and style.{{Sfn|Potter|1988|p=106}}"|salign=right |source=— Indologist [[Karl Harrington Potter|Karl Potter]]}}<br />
<br />
Dr. B. N. Krishnamurti Sharma is the author of "History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature: From the Earliest Beginnings to Our Own Times", ([[Motilal Banarsidass]], 1962). For this research work, Dr. B. N. Krishnamurti Sharma was awarded [[Sahitya Akademi Award]], the highest national literary award by the [[Government of India]] in 1963.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=xvii}}{{Sfn|Datta|1987|p=306}}<br />
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==Awards and honours==<br />
B. N. K. Sharma won numerous awards during the course of his literary career.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=3}} His first major award was in 1963, the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] for ''History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature''. In 1968, he was awarded the honorary [[Doctor of Letters]] ([[D.Litt.]]) in Sanskrit by the [[Mumbai University]].{{Sfn|Lal|1969|p=946}} In 1992, he was honoured with [[President of India]]'s Award for Eminent Sanskrit Scholars Award. In 1993, he was honoured with [[Government of Maharashtra]]'s Award for Eminent Sanskrit Scholar. On 13 November 1999, he was honoured with the title of "[[Mahamahopadhyaya]]" by the [[Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha]]. On 16 September 2003, he was honoured with the [[Motilal Banarsidass]] Centenary Award. On 2 May 2004, he was awarded the [[Maharashtra State]] [[Kannadiga]]s' Literary Conference Award in [[Mumbai]].{{Sfn|Sinha|Choudhury|1996|p=21}}<br />
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==Legacy==<br />
Sharma's greatest achievement was making Dvaita philosophy accessible to the outside world through his English works and literature. He is regarded as one of the leading Sanskrit and English language writers, along with [[K. T. Pandurangi]], R.S. Panchamukhi, [[Surendranath Dasgupta]], and K. Narain exposed and showed the importance of the Dvaita Vedanta in Indian philosophy to the Western world through their English works. Professor L. Stafford Betty says, "Dasgupta, K. Narain and B.N.K.Sharma - the three twentieth-century scholars who are perhaps most responsible for exposing the West to Vedantic Dualism (Dvaita)".{{Sfn|Betty|1978|p=11}} Noted historian [[George M. Moraes]] says, B. N. K. Sharma along with [[Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade|R. D. Ranade]], R. S. Panchamukhi and [[K. T. Pandurangi]] as a few of the eminent scholars who brought out the works of [[Purandaradasa]], [[Kanakadasa]] and other saints with critical appreciation.{{Sfn|Moraes|1972|p=261}} He gave his readers something to look forward to with his Dvaita works and is considered to be one of the best scholars India has ever produced.{{Sfn|Balasubramanian|2003|p=448}}{{Sfn|Moraes|1972|p=261}}<br />
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==Personal life==<br />
===Family===<br />
B.N.K. Sharma married Hemalatha, who hails from the Myleripalem Jagirdar family belonging to the [[Deshastha Madhva Brahmin]] community.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kovaimetro.in/index.php/2024/01/31/3420/|title=The Story of First Jagirdar of Myleripalayam In Coimbatore|date=31 January 2024|publisher=Kovai Metro}}</ref> The couple has one son and one daughter named Sudhindra Krishnamurti Bhavani (popularly known as Dr S.K. Bhavani), who is also a scholar and author of many works and Vibha. His son S.K.Bhavani married Lakshmi and had a son named Purandar who is also a scholar. Sharma's daughter Vibha was married to Srinivasan.{{Sfn|Sharma|2001|p=6}} Sharma's grandson Purandar Bhavani married Asha.{{Sfn|Sharma|2001|p=6}}<br />
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B. N. K. Sharma's son S. K. Bhavani worked as a professor at the Department of Sanskrit in Somaiyya College, Bombay and later as the principal of the college. S.K. Bhavani wrote a commentary on [[Bhagavad Gita]] by bringing together a critical and comparative study of Gita as interpreted by [[Adi Shankara]], [[Ramanuja]] and [[Madhva]] schools as well as by modern exponents like [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]] and [[Aurobindo]].{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=97}}{{Sfn|Sharma|1978|p=xxvi}}<br />
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===Views===<br />
B.N.K. Sharma was a follower of [[Dvaita Vedanta]] of [[Hinduism]], and a strong believer in spirituality. B. N. K. Sharma's family belongs to [[Vyasaraja Math (Sosale)|Vyasaraja Math]], but he is a disciple of [[Satyadhyana Tirtha]] of [[Uttaradi Math]]. Their family deity is Lord [[Venkateshwara]] of [[Tirupati]] and used to visit the temple quite often.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=549}}<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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===Bibliography===<br />
*{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Indian philosophies. 1, Bibliography : Section 1, Volumes 1-2|first=Karl H.|last=Potter|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publications|year=1995 |isbn=978-8120803084}}<br />
* {{cite book|title = A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature, 3rd Edition|first=B.N.K|last=Sharma|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint) |isbn = 978-8120815759| year= 2000}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Writers: Akademi Laurels|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cno_AQAAIAAJ|first1=Biswajit|last1=Sinha|first2=Ashok Kumar|last2=Choudhury|publisher=Eastern Book Linkers|year=1996|isbn = 9788186339312}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=My Latest Four Research Papers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Po3XAAAAMAAJ|first=B. N. Krishnamurti|last=Sharma|publisher=The Author|year=2001}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=The Brahmasūtras and Their Principal Commentaries: A Critical Exposition, Volume 3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f-TtAAAAIAAJ|first=B. N. Krishnamurti|last=Sharma|year=1978|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|isbn = 9788121500357}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC|first=Amaresh|last=Datta|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=1987|isbn=978-8126018031}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Ninian Smart on World Religions: Traditions and the challenges of modernity. I. Individual traditions. Buddhism. 'Mysticism and scripture in Theravāda Buddhism'|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=po7yggWmWbQC|first=Ninian|last=Smart|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|year=2009|isbn = 9780754666387}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Advaitasiddhi Vs Nyāyāmṛta: An Up To Date Critical Re-Appraisal|url=https://archive.org/details/AdvaitasiddhiVsNyayamrta|publisher=Akhila Bhārata Mādhva Mahamandal|first=B.N. Krishnamurti|last=Sharma|year=1994}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=The Brahmasūtras and Their Principal Commentaries: A Critical Exposition, Volume 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N5dWAAAAMAAJ|first=B. N. Krishnamurti|last=Sharma|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|year=1974|isbn = 9788121500340}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Sahitya Akademi awards: books and writers : 1955-1978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FkkOAQAAMAAJ|first=Sahitya|last=Akademi|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=1990|isbn = 9788172010140}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Guide to Indian Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SdVLAQAAIAAJ|first=Karl H.|last=Potter|publisher=G.K. Hall Publishing|year=1988|isbn = 9780816179046}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Historiography in Indian Languages: Dr. G.M. Moraes Felicitation Volume|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ngIcAQAAMAAJ|first=George Mark|last=Moraes |author-link=George M. Moraes|publisher=Oriental Publishers|year=1972}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Theistic Vedānta, Volume 2, Part 3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dzcKAQAAMAAJ|first=R.|last=Balasubramanian|publisher=Centre for Studies in Civilizations|year=2003|isbn = 9788187586128}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Vadiraja's Refutation of Sankara's Non-dualism: Clearing the Way for Theism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CHq1QsjLRekC|first=L. Stafford|last=Betty|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|year=1978|isbn = 9788120831582}}<br />
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bQMfAQAAMAAJ|title=The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Company|year=1969|first=Sham|last=Lal}}<br />
*{{cite book|title=Brahman:A Comparative Theology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JfncAAAAQBAJ|first=Michael|last=Myers|publisher=Routledge|year=2013|isbn = 9781136835728}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Wikiquote}}<br />
{{Commons}}<br />
* A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature<br />
**[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.128197 A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature Vol I (English) (1960)]<br />
**[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.128145 A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature Vol II (English) (1960)]<br />
*[https://archive.org/details/Philosophy.of.Sri.Madhvacarya Philosophy of Sri Madhvacharya (English)]<br />
*[https://archive.org/details/bhagavadgitabhasyaofsrimadhvacaryabnksharma1989ocr Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (English)]<br />
*[https://archive.org/details/MadhvasTeachingInHisOwnWordsBNKSharma Śrī Madhva's Teachings in His Own Words (English)]<br />
*[https://archive.org/details/AdvaitasiddhiVsNyayamrta Advaitasiddhi Vs Nyāyāmṛta: An Up To Date Critical Re-Appraisal (English)]<br />
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{{Sahitya Akademi Award for Sanskrit}}<br />
{{authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, B. N. K.}}<br />
[[Category:1909 births]]<br />
[[Category:2005 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Sanskrit writers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Sanskrit]]<br />
[[Category:English-language Indian writers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]</div>Locweld