Vidyaranya

12th Jagadguru of Sringeri

1296–1391 CE Pampakshetra (Hampi), Karnataka

A consolidator rather than an originator — wrote the most-used summary of Advaita Vedanta and helped found the Vijayanagara empire to defend Sanatana Dharma during a period of military pressure.

The teaching

Following Shankara strictly. The Panchadashi presents Advaita in fifteen chapters of clear, accessible Sanskrit verse — for many serious students it is the standard introduction. Vidyaranya is also remembered for the Sarvadarshana Sangraha, a survey of all sixteen schools of Indian philosophy seen from a Vedantic standpoint — still the best single overview written from inside the tradition.

Major works

Panchadashi — 15-chapter Advaita Vedanta primer in verse
Jivanmukti Viveka — on liberation while still embodied
Sarvadarshana Sangraha — survey of all classical Indian philosophical schools
Anubhutiprakasha — devotional and philosophical hymns

What he changed

Together with his brother Sayana (the Vedic commentator), guided the Sangama brothers Harihara and Bukka in founding the Vijayanagara empire (1336) — a political project to protect dharma
Presided as the 12th Shankaracharya of Sringeri at one of the tradition's critical historical junctures

Living lineage today

Sringeri Sharada Peetham continues. His texts (Panchadashi especially) are core curriculum at Vedanta schools worldwide.

Where to read more

Swami Swahananda · "Panchadashi" with translation (Sri Ramakrishna Math)
Hari Prasad Shastri · "Panchadasi" (Shanti Sadan)
Cowell & Gough · "Sarvadarshana Sangraha" — translation (Trubner / reprinted Cosmo)