Udyotakara

Udyotakara (or Uddyotakara) (c. 6th century CE) was a philosopher of the Nyaya school of Indian philosophy. Subandhu’s Vāsavadattā mentioned him as the rescuer of the Nyaya. He was a brahmin of Bharadvaja gotra and he belonged to the Pashupata sect. His philosophical treatise, the Nyāyavārttika was written to defend Vatsyayana'sNyāyavāṣya against the criticisms made by Dignaga.

Very little is known about the life of Udyotakara. The only place mentioned in his text is Shrughna, which is identified with the present-day Sugh in Yamuna Nagar district in Haryana. His Nyāyavārttika is divided into five chapters.