Vachaspati Mishra

(ca. late 15th c.) Commentator and compiler of the dharma literature. He composed dozens of texts in his working life,
including a number of digests (nibandha)
organized around various subjects,
including daily religious rites, purification, pilgrimage, death rites (antyeshthi
samskara), political life, judicial procedures, and funeral rites. In these digests
Mishra would draw material relating to
the theme from a number of different
religious texts, weigh them, and sometimes interpret their position on a religious issue. Mishra was much respected
for his learning and piety, and his texts
were an important resource to those
who followed him.