Dhundhi-raja (IAST: Ḍhuṇḍhirāja), also known as Ḍhuṇḍhi Vyāsa, was an 18th-century Sanskrit writer from Varanasi, who settled in the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom of present-day Tamil Nadu, India. He is noted for writing a commentary on Mudra-rakshasa (1713 CE) and an adaptation of Gita-govinda.
Dhundhi-raja was also known as Dhundhi-raja-vyasa-yajvan or Dhundhi-raja-yajvan,[1] yajvan being the title accorded to a person who had performed a ritual sacrifice (yajna).[2] King Shahaji I gave him the title Abhinava-Jayadeva ("the new Jayadeva") for writing Shaha-vilasa-gita,[1] a free adaptation of Jayadeva's Gita-govinda.[3]
Dhundhi-raja was a Marathi-speaking brahmin, originally from Varanasi. His father's name was Lakshmana-vyasa alias Lakshmana-sudhi. In the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom, Dhundhi-raja resided at Svamimalai near Thanjavur. His patrons included several members of the Thanjavur court, including the kings Shahaji I and Serfoji I, as well as the ministers Tryambaka and Raghunatha. He describes himself as a pauranika (Purana story-teller) of Shahaji.[1]
Dhundhi-raja had a son named Balakrishna, and a grandson named Shankara-dikshita, who composed Pradyumna-vijaya.[1]
The introductory verses in Dhundhi-raja's Mudra-rakshasa-vyakhya are same as those of his patron Tryambaka's Dharmākūta: it is possible that Tryambaka took these verses from Dhundhi-raja's work. Alternative theories ascribe the authorship of Mudra-rakshasa-vyakhya to Tryambaka or the authorship of Dharmākūta to Dhundhi-raja.[2]