Shri Mulchandra Telivala Ji
Introduction
Sri Mulchandra Telivala was born on 23rd September 1887 CE at Bharuch in Gujarat in a Visāmodha family. His father, Sri Tulasidāsa, was a prosperous businessman. However, about a year before Mulchandra was born, his father suffered a sudden and heavy loss in trade, and all his wealth vanished.
On account of worldly worries and troubles with which his parents were surrounded, Mulchandra inherited a very poor, lean physical body. At any time in his life, his weight was not more than 72 lbs (32 kg), but this slender body contained a spirit that was dauntless, unshaken by outward show or pomp, and could easily spurn wealth, of which his family had more than enough till his birth.
Education and Career
After passing his matriculation examination in 1905, Sri Mulchandra Telivala joined the Wilson College of Bombay and graduated in 1909 with Vedānta as his optional subject.
For some time, he served as a teacher at the Elphinstone High School, Bombay. Later, he was selected for the Training College, earning a scholarship of Rs. 50 per month, which provided him with an opportunity to study for his LL.B. degree.
Having passed the LL.B. examination in 1914, he began his legal practice at the Bombay High Court.
Personal Life
His first marriage took place at Ujjain in 1911-1912. His first son was born in 1914, and a daughter was born in 1915. Unfortunately, his daughter passed away, followed by his wife, who died during Diwali in October 1917.
His second marriage took place at Surat in 1920, in the Daśāmodha caste. His second wife gave birth to two sons and a daughter.
During the Summer Vacation of the High Court in 1927, he fell ill and travelled to Bharuch, his hometown, to recover. However, when he returned to Bombay in June 1927, he had not fully recovered.
On 18th June 1927, he suffered from an unbearable neuralgic pain in the head. After a brief illness, he breathed his last on 26th June 1927 CE.
Contributions to Sampradayik Literature and Scholarship
Early Contributions and Recognition (Before 1915)
Śrī Telivala had begun contributing to Pushti-bhakti-sudha, a monthly magazine devoted to Śuddhādvaita Vedānta and Pushtimarg, published from Bombay, while he was a college student. Pt. M. G. Shastri found in him an able and enthusiastic co-worker.
He received the prestigious Sujña Gokulacanda Jhala Vedānta Prize (1915) from Bombay University for his monograph: Discuss how far Śaṅkarācārya truly represents the view of the author of the Brahmasūtras.
Publication of Śodaśa-granthas and Commentaries (1916 - 1917)
Around this time, he planned to publish the Śodaśa-granthas of Śrī Vallabhācārya with all available commentaries.
1916 (V.S. 1973):
Published Sevaphalam with twelve Sanskrit commentaries and a scholarly Sanskrit introduction.
1917 (V.S. 1973 - 1974):
Published:
1. Nirodha-lakṣaṇam with six Sanskrit commentaries.
2. Sanyāsa-nirṇayaḥ with eight Sanskrit commentaries.
3. His monograph: Discuss how far Śaṅkarācārya truly represents the view of the author of the Brahmasūtras.
4. Śrī Puruṣottama-sahasranāma of Śrī Vallabhācārya with Nāmacandrikā (a Sanskrit commentary).
Major Publications (1918 - 1920)
1918 (V.S. 1975):
Published three volumes:
1. Premāmṛtam (with commentary of Śrī Vitthalanātha and Śrī Harirāya).
2. Śṛṅgāra-rasa-mandanam of Gosvāmī Śrī Vitthalanātha (with a Gujarati translation).
3. Taittirīyopaniṣad (with commentary of Śrī Jayagopāla Bhaṭṭa and a Gujarati translation).
1919 - 1920 (V.S. 1976 - 1977):
1. Discovered three more commentaries on Sevaphalam and published them.
2. Published multiple volumes, including:
a. Jalabhedaḥ (with four Sanskrit commentaries and two appendices).
b. Pañca-padyāni (with two Sanskrit commentaries).
c. Gosvāmī Puruṣottama's Vedānta-dhikaraṇamālā (including the Caturtha Adhyāya Adhikaraṇa-mālā of Yogi Gopeśvara).
Scholarly Works and Manuscripts (1921 - 1925)
1921 - 1922 (V.S. 1978 - 1979):
1. Published Bhaktivardhinī (with 14 Sanskrit commentaries).
2. Published Śrīmati Tippanī of Gosvāmī Śrī Vitthalanātha (with an extensive Gujarati introduction).
3. Published Rasa-pañcādhyāya-prakāśaḥ (Tamasa-phala-prakaraṇa).
1923 - 1925 (V.S. 1980 - 1982):
1. Published Siddhānta-muktāvali (with extensive commentaries).
2. Published Śrī Vallabhācārya's Trividha-nāmāvalī (with commentary of Śrī Gokulotsava).
3. Published Śrī Vallabhācārya's Subodhinī (Rajasa-sādhana-prakaraṇam).
Final Works and Unfinished Projects (1925 - 1927)
1925 - 1926 (V.S. 1982 - 1983):
1. Published Patrāvalambanam (with commentary of Gosvāmī Puruṣottama).
2. Published Śruti-rahasyam of Śrī Giridhara (with Gujarati commentary).
3. Began publishing his Gujarati translation of Sarvanirṇaya-prakaraṇam, but it remained unfinished.
1927 (V.S. 1983):
1. Published multiple volumes of Śrī Vallabhācārya's Śrīmad-brahma-sūtrānu-bhāṣyam, including:
a. Anubhāṣyam with Prakāśa and Raśmih (on B.S. III.1, III.2, and III.3).
2. Published Pusti-pravāha-maryādā (with four Sanskrit commentaries and a scholarly introduction).
Impact
Śrī Telivala made extraordinary contributions to the study of Śuddhādvaita Vedānta and Pushtimarg. His work was recognized by Sir John Woodroffe, Dr. A. B. Keith, Dr. S. K. Belvalkar, Pt. Vidhuśekhara Bhattācārya, and many others.
He successfully traced and procured several rare manuscripts, including: 1. Anubhāṣyam (on B.S. III.2.33 ff.) 2. Śrīmati Tippanī of Gosvāmī Śrī Vitthalanātha 3. Raśmih of Yogi Gopeśvara
He also exposed a spurious work falsely attributed to Śrī Vallabhācārya and shed new light on the lives of key figures in Pushtimarg.
His work remains a pillar of Pushti-marg literature and scholarship to this day.
Philosophy and Legacy
As is obvious from the above-mentioned account of his works, sometimes four to five books were in the press at a time, and he felt extremely happy at the prospect of publishing them together on some utsava day. His family astrologer had predicted from his horoscope that he would perform a great and memorable yajña (sacrifice), and after more than half of his works were out, he understood the meaning of this yajña.
Śrī Telivala possessed in the fullest measure all those qualities of head and heart which go to make a great scholar, along with a special aptitude for research.
"His creative faculty, powerful imagination, extremely retentive memory, and a deep all-round knowledge of the sāmpradāyika gāthās helped this aptitude of research to such an extent that he compelled old worn-out manuscripts to speak out—to whom they belonged, from whom they were stolen, when they were written, in whose handwriting they were, and other special details about each of them—with a quickness and preciseness which would win the admiration of even the hero of a detective novel."
The guiding principle of Śrī Telivala's life was the celebrated statement of Maharsi Yājñavalkya, "ato'nyad artam" (Br. Upa. III. 4.2, 5.1, 7.23)—i.e., everything else except God is of the nature of suffering. Religious to the core of his heart, Śrī Telivala practised complete āśraya, willing dependence on the will of Lord Kṛṣṇa at all times, however critical, and in all matters, however important, as a result of which he was always at ease.
He was an embodiment of selflessness, self-respect, and fearlessness.
"Though he had nothing, he seemed to possess everything; he could talk straight to a king on equal footing, and while engaged in sampradaya-sahitya sevā in his small room, he acted like a happy king surrounded by co-working companions all merry-making, sometimes sitting two on broken chairs...."
A gentleman of sterling character and a very noble heart, he used to freely acknowledge the slightest help he received in his work—whether by way of encouragement, money, cooperation, or manuscripts. This explains why we find the name of his friend and collaborator, Śrī D. V. Sankalia, besides his own name, in most of his works.
Recognition and Tributes
Despite his immense and unparalleled contributions to the preservation and propagation of Śuddhādvaita Vedānta and Pushtimarg, Śrī Mulchand Telivala Ji’s work largely went unrecognized during his lifetime. While a few contemporaries, such as Sir John Woodroffe, Dr. A. B. Keith, and Pt. Vidhuśekhara Bhattacharya, admired and acknowledged his scholarly efforts, broader recognition and celebration of his contributions were scarce.
His profound dedication to research and his relentless pursuit of knowledge remained a beacon for a select few who valued his work. Yet, his legacy endures through his writings and publications, continuing to inspire those who delve into the depths of Vedānta and Pushtimarg.
Posthumous Works and Influence
After Śrī Mulchand Telivala Ji's untimely demise in 1927, his friends and colleagues ensured his unfinished works saw the light of day. They published his Gujarati translation of Sarvanirṇaya-prakaraṇam and other essays, extending his legacy.
His meticulous research and devotion to Śuddhādvaita Vedānta continue to guide scholars and devotees. Even today, his works remain invaluable, reflecting his timeless influence on Vallabha Sampradāya and beyond.