Bhatta Dipika is a standard work on Purva Mimamsa. The author of Bhatta Dipika is Khandadeva. The ritualistic school of Purva Mimamsa has two distinct streams known as the Bhatta School of Kumarila Bhatta and the Prabhakara School of Prabhakara. Interestingly, the latter’s views are called ‘Gurumata’. Bhatta Dipika of Khandadeva is an important treatise on Bhatta Purva Mimamsa.
There are four commentaries on Bhatta Dipika –
- Bhatta Chintamani by Sri Kuti Shastri
- Bhatta Dipika Vyakhya by Sri Bhaskara Raya
- Bhatta Kalpataru by Sri Rama Subba Shastri
- Prabhavali by Sri Sambhu Bhatta
Bhatta Dipika and Prabhavali are read widely by scholars to acquire
a thorough knowledge of the various intricate points of Purva Mimamsa. Till the
advent of this work, the study of Purva Mimamsa was shunned by many because of the
varied interpretations of the various sub-schools which contradict each other.
Though in many places Bhatta Dipika differs from the actual prayoga, practice,
of the various rituals, it is still read by scholars for the logic and force of
the presentation. Definitions of various terms and lucid exposition of obscure ideas
are the distinct features of this work. It also takes into account the issues
dealt with in the earlier works on Purva Mimamsa.