Parasara Bhattar
Parasara Bhattar | |
|---|---|
| Personal life | |
| Home town | Srirangam |
| Parents |
|
| Era | 1062-1174 CE |
| Region | Tamilakam |
| Notable work(s) | Sri Ranganatha Stotram Srirangarajastavam Bhagavadgunadarpana Ashtashloki Sri Guna Rana Kosa Tirumanjana Kattiyam |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Denomination | Sri Vaishnavism |
| Philosophy | Vishishtadvaita |
| Religious career | |
| Guru | Embar |
| Successor | Nanjiyar |
Influenced by | |
Influenced | |
Parasara Bhattar (Tamil: பராசர பட்டர், romanized: Paraśara Bhattar), also called Periya Bhattar and Parashara Bhattarya, was a follower of Ramanuja, a 12th-century Sri Vaishnava teacher (1062-1174 CE). He was the son of Koorathalvar. His works include the Srirangarajastavam. He wrote a commentary in Sanskrit on Vishnu Sahasranamam from a Sri Vaishnava viewpoint, titled Bhagavadguna Dharpanam, in contrast to the Advaita view of Adi Shankara.
According to the Tenkalai tradition (Guru-parampara), Ramanuja's cousin, Embar, succeeded him as the leader of Sri Vaishnavas, followed by Parasara Bhattar. Parasara defeated an Advaita Vedanta philosopher named Madhava in a debate. He accepted Madhava as a disciple, gave him the name Nanjiyar, and appointed him as his successor.