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2026-03-01T00:11:35Z

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{{Infobox person
| name = N. Veezhinathan
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|1|21}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|6|9|1938|1|21}}
| death_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| occupation = Philosopher, Sanskrit Scholar, Musicologist
| alma_mater = [[University of Madras]] (PhD)
| known_for = Advaita Vedanta, Navya-Nyaya, Head of Sanskrit Dept (University of Madras)
| awards = [[President's Certificate of Honour]] (2002)

}}

'''N. Veezhinathan''' (21 January 1938 – 9 June 2024) was a preeminent South Indian philosopher, prolific writer, and musicologist. He began his formal study of [[Sanskrit]] at the age of five, which culminated in a Ph.D. with a thesis focused on [[Advaita Vedanta]].<ref name="TheHindu_Bio">{{cite news |last=V. |first=Sriram |title=Veezhinathan, quintessential philosopher |url=https://www.thehindu.com/authors/veezhinathan-quintessential-philosopher/article24995088.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=20 September 2018}}</ref>

His life and scholarship were deeply rooted in a century-long family connection with the [[Kanchi Matha]]. He was guided throughout his life by the [[Chandrashekarendra Saraswati|Kanchi Paramacharya]], who notably remarked that he remained alive solely to read the ''Gadadhari'' commentaries produced by Veezhinathan's mentor, N.S. Ramanuja Thathacharya.<ref name="MylaporeTimes_Obit">{{cite news |title=Obit: Prof. N. Veezhinathan, well-known Sanskrit scholar |url=https://www.mylaporetimes.com/2024/06/obit-prof-n-veezhinathan-well-known-sanskrit-scholar-prolific-writer-and-speaker/ |work=Mylapore Times |date=11 June 2024}}</ref>

== Academic career ==
Veezhinathan began his career as a lecturer in the Philosophy Department at the [[University of Madras]]. Under the influence of Dr. T.M.P. Mahadevan and Dr. Devasenapathy, he engaged deeply with Western philosophy, including the works of [[Martin Heidegger]], [[Søren Kierkegaard]], [[Bertrand Russell]], and [[Frederick Copleston]]. This comparative exposure allowed him to articulate complex Advaitic thoughts in English for a global academic audience.<ref name="TheHindu_Bio" />

He later transitioned to the Sanskrit Department, eventually serving as the Head of the department until his retirement. His teaching covered the primary schools of [[Vedanta]]: Advaita, [[Dvaita Vedanta|Dvaita]], and [[Vishishtadvaita]].

== Scholarship and Research ==
=== Navya-Nyaya and Commentaries ===
Veezhinathan spent 12 years studying Advaita under S. R. Krishnamurthi Sastri. He later gained a mastery of [[Navya-Nyaya]] (the "New Logic" school) under the celebrated N.S. Ramanuja Thathacharya (NSR Swami). He assisted NSR Swami in the transcription of commentaries for the ''Gadadhari'' texts and later authored the English introductions for these publications. He is credited with publishing commentaries for seven ''Gadadhari'' texts.<ref name="TheHindu_Bio" />

=== Editorial and Literary Work ===
With over 60 research papers to his credit, Veezhinathan was a prolific editor of classical manuscripts. His major editorial works include:
* ''Vakyarthadarpana'' of Ramatirtha Yati
* ''Vakyavrtti'' of [[Adi Shankara|Sankara]] (with the commentary of Ramananda)
* Contributions to the ''New Catalogus Catalogorum'' (NCC) project.

== Musicology ==
As a musicologist, Veezhinathan specialized in the spiritual and technical structures of [[Muthuswami Dikshitar]]'s Krithis. He frequently conducted "lecture-demonstrations" supported by his family members, including his daughter Bharathi on vocals.

== Personal Life and Vows ==
In adherence to a spiritual directive and a lifelong vow of national service, Veezhinathan did not hold a passport and never traveled abroad.<ref name="TheHindu_Bio" /> He was the father of [[Veezhinathan Kamakoti|V. Kamakoti]], the Director of [[IIT Madras]]. He attributed his professional and spiritual stability to the "unwavering support" of his wife during the challenging formative stages of his career.

== Awards ==
* '''[[President's Certificate of Honour]] for Sanskrit''' (2002)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Veezhinathan, N.}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:Advaita Vedanta]]

N. Veezhinathan - Revision history

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