Category:Commentators on Srimad Bhagavatam

• These are the personalities who have offered commentaries on the Srimad Bhagavatam

Letter to Sumati Morarjee — Valencay, France 7 August, 1976: Sridhara Svami is accepted as the original commentator on the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Perhaps you know that there is an edition of the Srimad-Bhagavatam by Krsna Sankara Sastri "abhinavah sukah" Vedantacarya, Sahitya-tirtha, sribhagavatasudhanidhi, from Ahmedabad. In his book he has given almost all the important commentaries on the Bhagavatam, as follows:

• 1. Sridhara Svami
• 2. Sri Vamsidhara
• 3. Sri Gangasahaya
• 4. Srimad Viraraghavacarya
• 5. Srimad Vijayadhvaja Tirtha
• 6. Srimad Jiva Gosvami
• 7. Srimad Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
• 8. Srimad sukadeva
• 9. Gosvami Sri-giridharalal (Vallabhacarya Sampradaya)
• 10. Sri Bhagavat-prasadacarya,

etc.. Among all commentaries, Sridhara Svami's is given the first position. This parampara has existed for a very long time. It was also accepted during Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's time, but Sri Vallabhacarya violated the system. Instead of acknowledging Sridhara Svami's pre-eminent position, he wanted to take it himself.

Theme Analysis

The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa and the natural commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra, and to understand its deep transcendental mysteries, one must consult the authorized commentaries of the great Vaiṣṇava ācāryas. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Śrīdhara Svāmī is the original and most prominent commentator, whose conclusions were personally accepted and revered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Following him, many exalted scholars like Jīva Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, and Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura wrote brilliant annotations to further illuminate the path of devotional service. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly warns against the commentaries of unauthorized speculators and impersonalist philosophers, who attempt to impose their material mentalities upon this completely transcendental literature.

• The Original Commentator: Śrīdhara Svāmī is recognized as the original and most authorized commentator on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, establishing the path of pure devotional service above all other processes.
• The Legacy of Great Vaiṣṇavas: Throughout history, many erudite scholars and pure devotees have written elaborate commentaries on the Bhāgavatam to help serious students relish the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes.
• The Purpose of Authorized Commentaries: The bona fide commentaries perfectly align with the original intent of Vyāsadeva, guiding the conditioned souls toward unalloyed love of Godhead.
• Rejecting Unauthorized Speculators: Impersonalists and those devoid of devotion are strictly forbidden from commenting on the Bhāgavatam, as their interpretations are offensive and deeply misleading.

• Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Great Vaiṣṇava Commentators on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.