Contribution Of Jaina Writers To Nyaya Vaisesika Literature

Author(s): J N Jaitley
Publisher: J N Jaitley

Page 15

Contribution of Jaina Writers etc.
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inseparable entities. Of course here he interprets the term Ayutasiddha1 to suit the Jaina point of view. He also accepts Asatkāryavāda2 of Nyāya and Vaiseșika schools of thought from the Paryāyārthika view point of Jainism. In showing the division of different substances on the basis of Sādharmya and Vaidharmya, though the Vaiseşika-Sūtra does not mention the ground of Mūrtatva and Amūrtatva, the Prasastapāda-Bhāsya does so. As we have stated, Umāsvāti does adopt the method of Vaiseșika in showing the division between different substances. He considers the ground of Rupi and Arupis in that division. Kundakundācārya instead of Rupis and Arupi adopts the terms Mūrta and Amūrta4 of Prasastapāda. Thus the work of Umāsvāti and Kundakundācārya show an intimate knowledge of Nyāya and Vaiseșika concepts and also adaptation of some terms to suit their needs.
After Umāsvāti and Kundakundācārya, both the sects of Jainism. Svetāmbara and Digambara, have produced eminent Ācāryas in every century up to Upādhyāya Yasovijaya (17th Cen. A.D.). As we are here mainly concerned with the contribution of Jaina writers to Nyāya-Vaiseşika literature, we shall first take up only a few prominent Ācāryas by way of showing the influence of N-V. on Jain thought and then discuss in detail all the works so far known either in a printed form or in MSS dealing with N.V. proper. Siddhasena Divākara (4th-5th cent. A.D.):5
Let us first take Siddhasena Divakara of the Svetāmbara sect. It is known that another word for Jainism is Anekāntavāda. This term Anekāntavāda as far as I know is not found in the earlier Agamas. The idea of course was known to the early thinkers of Sramaņa period, but the term that was more in vogue was Syādvāda. It was however after Siddhasena Divākara, the first systematizer of Jain logic, who put the doctrine of the Agamas in a methodical form, that the term Anekāntavāda became more popular and in course of time became a synonym for Jainism. Siddhasena Divākara put forth two works one in Prāksta Sanmati-TarkaPrakarana and the other in Sanskrit ‘Nyāyāvatārasūtra'. Besides these
1 Vide PK, verse No. 56. 2 Ibid verse No. 60. 8 TS 5-3,4. 4 PK verse No. 104. 5 For the time of Siddhasena Divakara vide "Sri Siddhasena Divakarana
Samayano Praśna” in Gujarati) by Pt. Sukhalālaji BV Vol. III, p. 152.