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 72

History and Sources
47
Pramānamimāínsā : It is a composition in the form of Sūtras, with the self-commentary. Dr. S. K. Mukerji in his preface to the above work gives the following account :
"The Pramāṇamimāṁsā of Hemacandra occupies an important position in the philosophical literature of India in general and in the Jaina philosophical literature in particular. It is a standard text book on Jaina logic and epistemology. It is quite natural that Hemacandra is deeply indebted to the previous writers both of Jaina and non-Jaina schools and a fastidious critic will find in Hemacandra's texts reproduction. But this need not detract from the merits of the work, since Indian writers do not make a fetish of originality either of thought or of language provided the views expressed therein accord with their philosophical position. The Pramāṇammsāmsā is written on the same pattern of Sūtra and commentary as the celebrated work of Vādideya Sūri. But it compares favourable with the latter in that it avoids the unremitting elaboration of arguments and prolixity of expression. It contains all the arguments that are necessary to elucidate a problem and the range of information is not substantially inferior to that of the more ambitious works referred above."
Unfortunately, this work is not available in its completeness. The extent portion is critically edited by the renowned scholar Pt. Sukhlal; which in itself, has become a valuable contribution to Jaina philosophy.
Hemacandra's two Dvātriņģikās are Anyayoga-vyavaccheda-dvātrimśikā and Ayogavyavaccheda-dvātrimśikā. The former is a devotional prayer addressed to the last Tirthankara Mahāvira. But in reality it is a criticism of the Brahmanical and Buddhist systems. The latter also is a eulogy in praise of Tirtharkaras. The former has a commentary known as Syādvādam añjari by Mallisepa.
ŚĀNTYĀCĀRYA (12th cent.):
He was a younger contemporary of Hemacandra. He has