Dvadasharnaychakram Part 4

Author(s): Mallavadi Kshamashraman, Labdhisuri
Publisher: Chandulal Jamnadas Shah

Page 79

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Aryadev, pupil of Nagarjuna, has composed works such as 'catuhsataka,' 'Hastvalaprakaran etc. The author of 'Nayacakra has quoted the following couplet from Hastavalaprakarna (v. 1):
"trai ag gfa ori"
Another name for this work is 'Mustiprakarana'. and it is furnished with a commentary by Dinnaga.
Vasybandhu
Acarya Vasubandu was a veteran philosopher of Buddhism. A big 'bhasya' was composed on Jnanaprasthana' in the time of Kaniska. It is called 'vibhasa. This is furnished with a commentary named as Mahavibhasasastra'. By resorting to this 'bhasya' Vasubandhu composed Abhidharmakosa and commented upon it, In the earlier period (of his life ) this scholar was Vaibhasika but later on, he accepted Yogacara doctrines by coming in contact with his eldest brother Asanga. As regards this (Vasubandhu) Buddhist scholars say that he got so much dejected in his after life on being reminded of his blasphemy of mahayana in his earlier life that he become ready to cut off his tongue. At that time too, his brother Asanga saved him. Vasubandhu then began to bear the burden of serving the Mahayana sect. He composed many works pertaining to this sect.
While logically refuting the sentence regarding 'pratyaksa' occurring in 'Abhidharmapitaka', Mallavadın Suri has extensively reflected upon 'Abhidharamakosa' and its 'bhasya and then refuted it. Just while doing so, he has refuted 'Prakaranapada' composed by Vasumitra.
There is a difference of opinion regarding the date of Vasubandhu. Takakusu, a Japanese scholar has assigned to him the date 500 A. D. But Dharmaraksa who was alive in about 400 A, D has translated into Chinese language works of Asanga, the eldest brother of this Vasubandu. So this Acarya is anterior to Dharamraksa. Pandit Vaman has said as under, in his commentary on Kavyalankara.
"सोयंऽसंप्रति चन्द्रगुप्ततनयः चन्द्रप्रकाशो युवा जातो भूपतिराश्रयः कृतधियां दिष्ट्या कृतार्थश्रमः"।
Thereby historians believe that by 'kratadhiyam' the commentator (Vamana) refers to Vasubandhu i, e. to say they mention Vasubandhu as a minister of Candragupta (I) of the 'Gupta' dynasty. This king of the 'Gupta' dynasty flourished in the former half of the third century. It is reasohable to believe this very date as that of vasubandhu.
Historians hold different opinions regarding the date of the commencement of the 'Gupta' dynasty Some scholars believe that the Gupta dynasty had commenced during the Andhra reign period and not later. This very 'Gupta' dynasty is called 'Andhra' Bhrtya dynasty. There is the following statemeut in Kaliyugarajavrttanta.
"ga qarat: sFTEH AT: staraTRI-Aara: arda: 11"
In the begining this dynasty was ruling in the mountain region named 'Srisaila' in the southern direction of the river 'Krsna'. In that dynasty there was Samudragupta son of Candra. gupta (1) As this Samudragupta was expert in music, some had designated him as 'Gandharvasena', His son-Jewel the third king (in that dynasty ) equalled the Sun in valour'. So some historians believe him to be 'Vikramaditya Candragupta (II) Sakari Sahasanka'. If this belief is correct Vasubandhu will be anterior to this Vikramaditya.
1. There was some valourous king whose name was Vikramaditya. So the belief that author valourous kings by adopting the title of Vikramaditya to show their provess say that a certain king is Vikramaditya, is untenable.