Pañcadaśī

The Pañcadaśī (Fifteen Chapters) is a comprehensive textbook of Advaita Vedānta philosophy, composed by Vidyāraṇya (also known as Mādhavācārya), the pontiff of the Śṛṅgeri Maṭha.

Overview

Composed in the 14th century CE, the text consists of fifteen chapters that systematically present the entire range of Advaita Vedānta philosophy. It is one of the most important post-Śaṅkara Advaita texts and has been widely used as a textbook in traditional Vedānta schools.

Content and Structure

The fifteen chapters cover: the nature of Brahman, the world-appearance (māyā), the individual self, the three states of consciousness, the five sheaths, the means of knowledge (pramāṇas), the nature of ignorance (avidyā), and the path to liberation through Self-knowledge. The text also includes refutations of rival philosophical positions and detailed explanations of key Advaita concepts.

Significance

The Pañcadaśī is one of the most important manuals of Advaita Vedānta after the Brahma Sūtra Bhāṣya. It has been continuously used as a textbook in traditional Vedānta schools for over six centuries and remains a standard reference for the study of Advaita philosophy.

Verification Notes

• Composed by Vidyāraṇya (Vācaspati Miśra II), pontiff of Śṛṅgeri Maṭha.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).