Adyakavi Mukundraj Study Centre

Mukundaraj is recognized as the first Marathi poet, with his work 'Viveksindhu' holding the distinction of being the first book in Marathi literature. However, his exact place and period remain subjects of scholarly debate, and there's even discussion about whether there were one or two individuals named Mukundaraj in Marathi literary history. While 'Viveksindhu' is believed to be a verse collection from 1188, a specific verse within it presents a discrepancy with the expected timeline of the Shak and Samvatsara eras. Furthermore, K. P. Kulkarni's observation that this particular verse appears in only two out of 92 manuscripts he examined raises questions about its original inclusion.

Despite these uncertainties, Mukundaraj's tomb in Ambajogai, Beed district, suggests his connection to that region. He is credited with two significant Marathi works, 'Viveksindhu' and 'Paramamrut', and is also believed to have authored the Sanskrit text 'Mahabhashyam' as an explanation of 'Viveksindhu'. Additionally, 'Moolastambh' and 'Pavanvijay' are attributed to him. 'Viveksindhu', comprising eighteen chapters, primarily propounds the Advaita philosophy, deeply influenced by Shankara's teachings. Mukundaraj explicitly states that his work draws meaning from the Vedashastra and follows the 'Rahati' of the Upanishads, presenting Shankarokti. His primary goal was the systematic and logical exposition of Advaita in Marathi, emphasizing a philosophical rather than a purely poetic approach. Tarkteerth Laxman Shastri Joshi aptly described 'Viveksindhu' as an eloquent Vedantic exposition in the Shankara tradition within the Marathi language. His other metrical work, 'Paramamrita', is a shorter composition of 323 verses. Mukundaraj's tomb is located approximately 5 km northwest of Ambajogai town.