Authorship Of Sastitantram

SR No.: 269347
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: G Oberhammer
Publisher: G Oberhammer
Total Pages: 22
Language: English
Classification: Article
File Size: 2 MB

Page 5

According to the author it is written on the basis of another work. the Şastitantram. But, with the Kārikā the development of the Sāņkhya philosophy has come to stagnation. It is only treated and commented on by learned pandits as part of the general intellectual formation. Later on about the latter half of the Middle Ages we find a renaissance of the system marked by the redaction of the Sāņkhyasūtras in the form we have got, and by the commentaries. among others, of Vijñānabhiksu on the Samkhyasūtras and of his lisciple on the Tattvasamāsasūtras. In this development of the Sāmkhya doctrine we have to fit in the figure of Pancasikha in order to be able to decide whether he can be spoken of as the anthor of the Şaşțitantram or not.
The oldest reference to Pañcasikha in the tradition of the system is found in īśvarakrsna's short statement:
etatpavitramagryam munirūsuraye’nukampayā pradadau /
āsurirapi pañcaśikhāya tena ca bahudhā krtam tantram //'! The meaning of the phrase tena bahudhā krtam tantram hias been understood by subsequent commentators in different ways and we shall have to revert to this"). Further information about Pancasikha's historical position is presented by the commentaries on the Sāmkhya. kārikā giving more detailed lists of teachers and pupils"). Thus. the oldest commentary that has come down to us. the one translated by Paramārtha, mentions, like all other commentaries. Pañcaśikha immediately after Asuri and adds several more names of teachers after him. Therefore we can conclude that for the author whose work Paramārtha translated, the period of Pancasikha was so remote that he could cite him with Asuri either because of defi
9) Sāmkhyakārikā Kā. 70. .) See p. 82.
*) Paramārtha's commentary (BEFEO tom. IV, p. 1059): Cette connaissance vint de Kapila à Asuri, qui la transmit à Pañcaśikha. Pancasikha la donna à Hokia . (Gārgia?), Hokia à Ulūka, Ulūka à Po-po-li, Po-po-li à Isvarakrsna ....." --- Mātharavrttiḥ p. 83: sișyaparamparayāgatamiti, kapilādā suriņā prāptam idam jñānam ! tatah pañcaśikhena, tasmād bhārgavolūkavālmīkihāritadevalaprabhrtināgatam / tatastebhya Isvarakrsnena prāptam. -- Jayamangala p. 69: sisyaparamparayā ityādi / munerāsureh pañcaśikhastathā gārgagautamaprabhrtirnaramatamgramya (?) īśvarakrsnanamānam parivrajakamityanayāśisyaparamparavā.
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