Vidyaranya, also known as Mādhavācharya (not to be confused with Madhvāchārya), was the Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham from around 1374-1380 until 1386. According to tradition, he took on the name Vidyaranya after being ordained at an old age and became the Jagadguru of this Matha at Sringeri.

Madhavacharya is famous for writing the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha, a compendium of various philosophical schools of Hindu philosophy, and Pañcadaśī, an important text for Advaita Vedanta.

According to tradition, Vidyaranya played a role in establishing the Vijayanagara Empire around 1336 and acted as a mentor and guide to three generations of kings who ruled over it. However, the accuracy of this account is questionable and may have originated as late as 200 years after the events as a "political foundation myth" to represent the authority of the Vijayanagara state.

The Vidyashankara temple in Sringeri, which is maintained by the ASI, is the samadhi of Vidya shankara, the guru of Vidyaranya. The temple was built over the former's grave by his disciple Harihara.

Dating of Vidyaranya:

The dating of Vidyaranya is uncertain. Some sources state that he was born between 1280 and 1285, while others claim that he was born in approximately 1296 CE in Ekasila Nagara (present-day Warangal), according to the records of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Vidyaranya was ordained as a sannyasin in 1331, according to the Sringeri matha. However, other sources suggest that he ordained at an old age in the year 1377. Vidyaranya served as the jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham from around 1374-1380 until his death in 1386 CE. The first genuine epigraphic mention of Vidyaranya is dated October 25th, 1375.

Vidyaranya is believed to have been ordained as a sannyasin in 1331, according to the Sringeri matha and other sources.[web 1][6] While Goodding suggests that Vidyaranya was ordained at an old age, Rosen Dalal mentions the year 1377 as the time of his ordination.[8]

From around 1374-1380, Vidyaranya served as the jagadguru or spiritual head of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham (Sringeri matha) until his death in 1386 CE.[1][2][3][4][note 1] According to Slaje, there is evidence from inscriptions that Vidyaranya was in charge of the peetham from at least 1374/75, succeeding Bharatitirtha who died in 1374, until his death in 1386.[4][7] Clark notes that the first genuine epigraphic mention of Vidyaranya dates back to October 25th, 1375.[9]

Vidyaranya, who is believed to have been known as Madhava before becoming a sannyasin, is often identified with Madhavacharya, the author of Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha and Shankara Digvijaya. However, some accounts suggest that Vidyaranya and Madhavacharya may have been different people.

According to the records of the Sringeri math, Vidyaranya was the older brother of Bharati Tirtha, who was his predecessor as the acharya of the math. Vidyaranya is credited with composing or contributing to several texts, including the Panchadashi. Some sources claim that Bharati Tirtha may have completed the Panchadashi, but the Sringeri records clearly distinguish Vidyaranya and Bharati Tirtha as separate individuals.

There are also accounts that identify Madhava, the brother of the Mimamsa scholar Sayana, with Madhavacharya or Vidyaranya. To clarify this identification, some scholars have referred to this Madhava as Madhava [B], distinct from another Madhava [A]. Madhava [B] served as a minister in the Vijayanagara Empire in the mid-14th century and wrote several works, including the Jivanmuktiviveka, which is typically attributed to Vidyaranya.

According to the Sringeri records, Madhava and Sayana, the brothers, sought the blessings of Vidyaranya and completed his unfinished Veda bhashyas.

Vidyaranya's role in the founding of the Vijayanagara Empire is uncertain and has been subject to different versions. According to tradition, he played a key role in inspiring the empire's founders, Harihara Raya I and Bukka Raya I, to fight against Muslim invasions of South India and served as a prime minister to the early kings. However, there are several versions of this narrative, including a Telugu account that is based on Sanskrit sources written 200 years later.

Contemporary documents, including inscriptions issued by the earliest rulers of Vijayanagara, do not mention Vidyaranya's role in the empire's founding. The historical authenticity of the Telugu account has been questioned, and the first works to mention this narrative were written over 200 years after the establishment of Vijayanagara.

Recent studies suggest that Vidyaranya was not involved in the founding of the Vijayanagara Empire. Texts describing his involvement date from the 16th and 17th century and may be a "political foundation myth" aimed at reinforcing the authority of the Vijayanagara state. Vidyaranya's supposed political status may be based on a misidentification with Madhavamatrin, a minister to Sangama brother Mallapa I. Inscriptions from before 1374 do not mention Vidyaranya, further casting doubt on his role in the empire's founding.

The Sringeri matha is a powerful institution in the Advaita Vedanta tradition, which became prominent in the 14th century through patronage from the Vijayanagara Empire. While some scholars argue that the matha may have originated as late as the 14th century, others suggest that it already existed but rapidly gained prominence in the second half of the 14th century.

Vidyaranya, a disciple of Shankara, played a central role in repositioning Shankara and his view on Advaita Vedanta. With royal support, Vidyaranya established monasteries (mathas) to expand the cultural influence of Shankara and Advaita Vedanta, and wrote extensive Advaitic commentaries on the Vedas and Dharma to make "the authoritative literature of the Aryan religion" more accessible.

Advaita Vedanta's position as the most influential Hindu darsana took shape as Advaitins in the Vijayanagara Empire competed for patronage from the royal court, and tried to convert others to their sect. Vidyaranya's efforts were aimed at promoting Advaita Vedanta among Srivaishnavins, and this promotion was aided by the production of new texts.

In the late 15th century, the patronage of the Vijayanagara kings shifted to Vaishnavism. Following this loss of patronage, Sringeri matha had to find other means to propagate its former status, and the story of Shankara establishing the four cardinal mathas may have originated in the 16th century. Most of Shankara's biographies were created and published from the 15th to the 17th century, and legends were created turning Shankara into a "divine folk-hero who spread his teaching through his digvijaya ("universal conquest") all over India like a victorious conqueror."