Ayachi Mishra (Sanskrit: अयाची मिश्र) was an Indian Vedic scholar during the 14th century in Mithila. His real name was ''Bhavanatha Mishra''. He was an eminent scholar of the Nyaya Shastra in the

Indian philosophy Indian philosophy consists of philosophical traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The philosophies are often called darśana meaning, "to see" or "looking at." Ānvīkṣikī means “critical inquiry” or “investigation." Unlike darśan ...

. The Nyaya Shastra also known as

Indian Logic The development of Indian logic dates back to the Chandahsutra of Pingala and '' anviksiki'' of Medhatithi Gautama (c. 6th century BCE); the Sanskrit grammar rules of Pāṇini (c. 5th century BCE); the Vaisheshika school's analysis of atomism (c. ...

is one of the six schools of thought in the Indian philosophy.

Etymology

''Ayachi'' is a Sanskrit adjective word. The Hindi word of Ayachi is ''Ayachaka'' having literal meanings non-asking, prosperous or rich. According to legend, it is said that the scholar Bhavanatha Mishra never asked anything with anyone in his life. He was very committed to his words and promises given to anyone. It is said that due to his ideal qualities of renunciation and commitment to his words, he was later called as Ayachi and became famous with his new name Ayachi Mishra.

Early life

Ayachi Mishra was born in a

Maithil Brahmin Maithil Brahmins are the Indo-Aryan Hindu Brahmin community originating from the Mithila region and original inhabitants of Southern Nepal and bordering regions of India that comprises Madhesh Province & some areas of Koshi Province in Nepal ...

family at ''Sarisab Pahi'' village of the

Madhubani district Madhubani district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar, India, and is a part of Darbhanga division. Its administrative headquarters are located in Madhubani. The district has an area of and has a population of 4,487,379 (as of 20 ...

in the

Mithila region Mithila (), also known as Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal, is a geographical and cultural region of the Indian subcontinent bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothil ...

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

, India.

Later life

Bhavanatha Mishra later became the eminent scholar of the Nyaya Shastra in the Indian philosophy. He spent his entire life on only one and a half ''katthas'' of land at Sarisab Pahi village in the

of the

in Bihar, India. The place where he lived in the village is presently called as Ayachi Mishra Dih which has been recognised and preserved as a historical place by the

Government of Bihar Bihar Government is the State governments of India, state government of the States and territories of India, Indian state of Bihar and its nine Divisions of Bihar, divisions which consist of Districts of Bihar, districts. It consists of an execut ...

. He taught his disciples without taking an fees. According to legend, it is said that in Gurudakshina, he only asked his disciples to teach at least ten students. He also taught his own son

Sankara Mishra Sankara Mishra (Sanskrit: शंकर मिश्र), also known as Shankara Mishra, was an Indian Vedic scholar during the 15th century in Mithila. He was a scholar of Vaisheshika school of thought in the Indian philosophy. Vaisheshika philoso ...

who wrote nineteen books based on his teaching.

References

{{India-philosopher-stub Ancient Mithila University Indian philosophers Mithila Hinduism Nyaya Philosophers of Mithila