| Sumario: | This study explores the Šrīvaisņavas' commitment to upholding both the Sanskrit and Tamil scriptures or ubhayavedānta (literally, the dual Vedantas). In particular, it focuses on how one of the most influential post-Ramanuja ācāryas in the community, Vedantadesika (1269-1369), supported the two-scriptures principle in his Dramidopamsattātparyaratnāvalī. In this work Vedantadesika summarizes and translates the Tamil scripture, the Tiruvāymoli of Nammaļvar, arguably the most authoritative South Indian Vaisņava poet of a group collectively known as the Āļvars (ca. sixth to tenth century), into Sanskrit. I argue that Vedantadesika's main goal is to secure the status of Nammaļvar's Tiruvāymoli as the Tamil Vedanta or Upanisad (and as the Tamil Veda in some cases). His attempt to bridge the gap between the Sanskrit and Tamil scriptures can be seen in three different aspects: their scriptural status, theology, and linguistic expression. Vedantadesika reinforces the scriptural status of the Tirūvāymoli, restructures the text so that it consistently illustrates God's qualities, similar to the Sanskrit Upanisads, and, through the linguistic medium of Sanskrit, deemphasizes the poetic tropes of classical Tamil love poetry. While there were other summaries of the Tiruvāymoli before, during, and after his time, Vedantadesika's summary is remarkable for its systematic approach and clear agenda.
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