Introduction : 1 Gandapada: His Dute, Life, Works etc. The gods, likewise, are often mentioned in the singular, so the rule about the plural being used honorifically is not without its exceptions. Balakrsnānanda (circa 17th century) in his शारीरकमीमांसाभाष्य- वार्तिक, describes Gaudapada as गौड़जातिश्रेष्ठ and as one being in Samadhi right up from the Dväpara yuga. There is no reason to doubt the historicity of Gauda pâda, on the strength of the above traditional account which could not have possibly invented him, The Karikas have been quoted by well-known writers, both Vedāntists and Buddhists :- Śäntirakṣita and Bkāvaviveka 4 quote some Kārikās as coming from some Vedāntaśāstra. As both the above Buddhist writers were concerned with the doctrines and not the name of the author, the non-mention of Gaudapāda need not appear surprising. In fact, Sanskrit writers normally quote passages from other works, without specifying the names of the authors. Sankarācārya quotes the Kārikā अनादिमायया ... in his sútrabhāṣya (II. 1, 9), with the remark अत्रोक्तं वेदान्तसंप्रदायविद्भिराचार्यः, and Karika 1II. I5 in the bháșya (I. IV. 14), with the remark 70 तथा च संप्रदायविदो वदन्ति(The plural used in both the cases is obviously intended to show respect and refers to only one Acārya and not to many ). Šureśvara in his Naişkarmyasiddhi, quotes two G. Kärikäs (1. 11 and 15 ), and one from Upadeśasahasri of Sankara, with the remark एवं गौडेर्द्राविडैर्नः पूज्यैरयमर्थः प्रभाषितः 1 As द्राविडैः here refers to Satikara, siit: must refer to only one individual viz. गौडपाद. Dr. Walleser misunderstands गौडैः and द्राविडैः to mean representa- tives of the Gauda and Drāviņa tradition'. The commentator ज्ञानोत्तम calls the G. Karikās quoted in the नैष्कर्म्यसिद्धि, गौडपादीयवाक्य. Vidyāranya in his पञ्चदशी refers to Gaudapāda's teaching which is characterised as आचार्यसंमति by his commentator. The Vedäntasära of Sadananda quotes two G. Karikas ( III. 44, 45 ) as being 100 well-known, with the remark तदुक्तम्. 4 About the 5th and 8th centuries A D. 5 IV, 41, 42,
