Tattva Sangraha Vol 1

SR No.: 007608
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kamlashila, Ganganatha Jha
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra
Publication Year: 1937
Total Pages: 753
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 42 MB

Page 127

CHAPTER VI.
Doctrine of the Purusa'-Spirit-Personality-as Cause'
of the World.
With the following Text, the Author introduces the doctrine of the Vedavadin' (Follower of the Veda) :
TEXTS (153-154),
OTHERS, HOWEVER, POSTULATE THE PURUŞA' (SPIRIT), SIMILAR IN CHARACTER TO God'-AS THE CAUSE OF THE WORLD, -THEIR MIND BEING SWAYED BY AN ILL-CONCEIVED DOCTRINE. THUS SPIRIT HAS HIS POWERS SUCH AS DO NOT CEASE EVEN IN REGARD TO THE DISSOLUTION OX ALL THINGS, HE IS THE CAUSE OF ALL BORN THINGS, JUST AS THE SPIDER IS OF THE
COBWEBS.-(151)
COMENTARY.
These people state their doctrine as follows:-"The Purusa, Spirit, alone is the Cause of the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the whole world; his powers do not cease even in regard to Dissolution. This has been this declared
- As the Spider is the cause of the cobwebs, the Lunar Gem of water, and the Banyan Tree of its offshoots,so is the Spirit the Cause of all born things'; and again 'The Spirit alone is all this, the past, and also the future."
Similar in character to God;-.e. He has qualities equal to those of God; inasmuch as botls are the efficient cause of the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the universe : the only difference between these two (Spirit and God) is that those who regard God as the Cause of the World postulate other things also like the Soul and such things, as the constituent' and other kinds of Causo (God being only the efficient cause);-while those who regard Spirit' as the Cause of the world, posit the Spirit alone as the sole cause (efficient as well as constituent); but the character of being the efficient cause of creation, sustenance and dissolution is common to both doctrines. They have their mind swayed by an ill-conceived doctrine ; i.e. their mind is under the influence of a doctrine which is wrongly conceived.
The term Ornanäbha stands for the Spider.-(153-164)
With the following Text, the Author proceeds to set forth the objections against this doctrine :