Alamban Pariksha

Author(s): Dinnaga, Dharmapala, N Aiyaswami Shastri
Publisher: Adyar Library

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having incurred displeasure of his teacher, he was expelled, and he then joined the school of Vasubandhu. Then he lived for some time in a cave on Bhora Saila in Odivisa, sojourned in Nalandā, where he disputed successfully with several defenders of various schools and afterwards returned to Odivis'a. Here he resolved to devote himself to the compilation of a treatise on logic, and the resolve was followed by an earthquake, a great light and a noise in the air. When he began to despair of success in his understanding, Mañjus'rī appeared to him, and roused him to renewed application by advice and encouragement. The king of the country also became of his friend and patron.” (v. On Yuan Chwang's travels in India, Vol. II, p. 212).
From the above narratives we may conjucturally construe his life as below : He was born in a Brahmin family in a suburb of Kāñcī, then capital of Pallava kings in South India. Being educated in the orthodox teachings of Brahmins and Buddhists, he joined first the Vātsīputrīya sect of Buddhists. Being unsatisfied with its teachings he started for search of truth and finally came to Vasubandhu in Nālandā and studied with him the logic and Vijñānavāda. He composed there several smaller treatises such as commentary on the Abhidharmakos'a, the Alambanaparikṣā, Nyāyamukha and others. After retirement from Nālandā, he settled in a cave on Bhora Saila in Odivisa and also frequently staying in Achala's monastery (=Ajanta caves) where he composed his Pramāṇasamuccaya, the standard treatise