Jaina Epistemology

SR No.: 006738
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1990
Total Pages: 516
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

Page 68

History and Sources
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PRABHĀCANDRA (1037-1122):
He is well known as the author of Prameyakamalamārtanda and Nyāyakumudacandra. The former is a commentary on the Pariksāmukha and the latter on Laghiyastraya. It appears that Prabhācandra wrote a commentary on the Tattvārtha also. The authorship of Sākațāyana-Vyāsa also is ascribed to him; but it is not confirmed as yet.
The subject matter of Prameyakamalamārtanda is the same as that of Pariksāmukha. It criticises all the non-Jaina systems at great length. Its style of refutation is rather destructive. Only a small portion of its treatment can be considered as a real contribution. The remaining portion is merely the wrangling of words. One cannot place it at par with Vidyānanda or Akalarka. Nevertheless, the composition represents the tendency of that age. Its influence on Devasüri, in his Syādvāda Ratnākara is clear.
Nyāyakumudacandra is written in a fluent and clear langue age. The author has tried to follow Vidyananda and Anantavirya in it, but how far he has succeeded is a matter to be judged; unlike Vidyānanda he does not try to clarify his own view but indulges in refutation of others by creating a labyrinth of alternatives; a big number of which is useless.
Unlike Prameyakamala, Nyāyakumudacandra is not written on any definite plan. The discussion of one and the same pro. blem is scattered over many places.
Dr. S. Mukerji writes : “As regards Prabhācandra's work, they are literally formidable for their abstruse array of arguments and their forbidding language which has neither grace nor literary charm. 1 VÄDIRĀJA (11th cent.):
He is known as the author of Nyāyavipiścayavivaraņa. It is a lucid and scholarly commentary on the Nyāyaviniscaya
1. Pramāṇamımāṁsā Introduction.