Abhidha

Author(s): Tapasvi Nandi, Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 10

Mukula and Kuntaka Mukula
We may compare Bhoja's approach, to that of Mukula-Bhatta, Kuntaka and also Mahima Bhatta, because these three writes also do not fall in line with the so called Kashmira school of thought. Though of course Mukula and Kuntaka were definitely Bhoja's predecessors, Mahimā was perhaps almost a senior contemporary. The consideration of these writers also is taken up due to the reason that they also do not fall in line with the Kashmir tradition. As it is, they are all pre-Mammata but of course unique in their approach and Bhoja was under their influence. We examine Mukula Bhatta first.
Mukula Bhatta to the best of our knowledge, has contributed a single work called the “Abhidhā-vrtta-mātrkā.” Mukula virtually accepts two śabda-vrttis such as abhidh, and laksanā, but the latter is also an extension of, and therefore part of abhidhā for him, and is broad enough to include even vyañjanā. In the very first kārikā he observes :
"sabdavyāpārato yasya
pratītis tasya mukhyatā arthāvaseyasya punar
laksyamānatvam ucyate.” - AVM. I. pp. 2
(Edn. Dr. R. P. Dwivedi, Chowkhamba Vidyābhavan, '73) He further observes : (pp. 2, ibid) : “sabda-vyāpārād yasyāvagatis tasya mukhyarvam. sa hiyathā sarvebhyo hastādibhyo'vayavebhyah pūrvam mukham avalokyate, tādvad eva sarvebhyaḥ pratīyamānebhyah arthāntarebhyaḥ pūrvam avagamyate tasmān mukham iva mukhya iti śākhādiyāntena mukhya-śabdena abhidhīyate. tasya udāharaṇam, 'gaur anubandhya' iti. atra hi go-śabda-vyāpārāt yāga-sādhana-bhūtā go-tva-lakṣaṇā jātir avagamyate. atas tasyāḥ mukhyatā tad evam sabda-vyāpāra-gamyo mukhyorthaḥ.” i. e. - The apprehension of which is derived through the function of employment of a word is termed mukhya i. e. principal. It is said to be 'mukhya' because as is 'mukha' i. e. face seen first as compared to hands and other limbs, in the