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The Concept of Nirvikalpata in Buddist Logic and the Indian Tradition
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synthesis of productive imagination. According to Buddhist logic the perceived object is the real cause of restricted mental reflex (niyata pratibhāsa) but verbal designation or the capability of it is not caused by object and so it can not be a restricted mental reflex.
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Dharmottara explains that vikalpa does not require an object for its manifestation. If a vikalpa arises after a nirvikalpakā cognition due to recalling a previously cognised object, then also it is aniyata pratibhāsa. Niyata pratibhasa is the deciding factor of nirvikalpatā according to Dharmottara, and that occurs in the presence of an object only.
The definition of kalpanā as given by Dharmakirti and Dharmottara refutes the definition of nirvikalpatā given by kumārila Bhaṭṭa. In his Ślokavārtika Kumārila considers the cognition of a baby and dumb person as belonging to the category of nirvikalpatā, but Dharmakītri says that a cognition of a baby and a dumb person would come under the category of kalpana, if that cogniton would have the capability of coalescing with a verbal designation."
Dharmakirti and Dharmottara prove the fact that concept of nirvikalpatā as an essential property of perception is found not only in indriya pratyakṣa, but also in the other kinds of perception as in manasa-pratyakṣa, svasamvedana and yogi-pratyakṣa. Dharmottara says
'Asaty-abhilāpa-samsarge kuto yogyatāvasitir iti cet,
Aniyatapratibhasatvāt.- Nyāyabindutīkā 1.5, p.45 Arthasannidhi-nirapekṣatvät. Nyāyabindu tīkā, 1.5, p. 46 'See, Nyāyabindutīkā, 1.5, pp. 44-46
