Jainism in Buddhist Literature

SR No.: 011023
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Alok Prakashan
Publication Year: 1972
Total Pages: 326
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

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them. The Jaina philosophy, which is much closer then other religions to the Buddhist philosophy, also came in for a certain amount of criticism. Their main objections were raised against the dual characteristic of reality according to the Anekantavada conception, which was the result of endeavours to unite all the one-sided views. The Pramanavārtika of Dharmakirti and its Commentaries Pramanavārtikați kā of Deveudramati, Pramanavārtikalankūra of Prajñākaragupta Pramanavārtika svavsttitika of Karnakagomin, Tattoasangraha of Santarakṣita, Hetubindutikil of Arcaţa and other works of Buddhist philosophers had been already written to refute the Vedic views of Kumā. rila, iśvarasena and Mandanamiśra, and the Jaiga views of Umásvāni, Samantabhadra and Siddhasena. At this critical moment Acārya Akalanka and Haribhadra entered the field of controversy against the opponents of Jainism,
Mahendra Kumara established the view that the age of Haribhadra lies from 720 A. D. to 810 A. D. and that Akalanka flourished in 720-780 A. D. Both these great philosophers defended Jainism and in due course formulated a Jaina philosophical ideology on the bosis of Syadváda and Non-vilence128.
Here the persanality of Akalanka, who is mentioned only once in Buddhist literature, (DHP, p. 246) is very significant. His literary contribution is profound and extensive. All his works Tattvarthavārtika, Aştašati, Laghiyastrayasvavýtti, Nyayaviniscaya Saviurtti Siddhiviniscaya, Pramanasangraha, etc. "Stand as eloquent testimony to his penetrating mind and show a remarkable advancement in Jaina logic. He had a chivalrous disposition to help the people misled by the Buddhists. In his writings he was very satrical and caustic about Buddhists, particularly about Dharmakirti, in retorting the euphemistic criticism of Syädváda by Dharmakirti."130 Haribhadra and his works such as Sastravārtāsamuccaya, Anekāntajayapa. tākā and Anekāntāvādapravesa, also bear the same characteristics. The later Jaina philosophers developed the Jain philosophy of both these Acāryas, Akalarika and Haribhadra on their own ways.