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Parikshamukham
217
In the work Akalanka-charitra it is mentioned that in 700 Vikrama Samvat (643 A.D.) there was a great discussion between Akalanka and the Buddhists. Pandit Sāstri points out that B. Kamta Prasad has taken the date as saka 700 but it is clear from the Sanskrit verse that Vikram Samvat is referred therein*.
Pandit Sāstri holds the view that Akalanka flourished in the middle of the 7th century. After criticising the views of B. Kamtaprasad, Dr. Pathak, Dr. Bhandarkar, and Dr. S. C. Vidyābhuşaņa as mentioned above, he mentions the following evidence regarding the time of Akalanka :
Siddhasena Gani has written a commentary on the Tattvärtha Bhâsya. Siddhasena has mentioned Dharmakirti (7th century). Silānka (9th century) has mentioned Siddhasena as Gandhahasti. The date of Siddhasena therefore lies between these broad periods. Siddhasena has mentioned the work Siddhi-vinischaya of Akalanka in his Tattvartha Bhasya Tika.
Jinadāsa Gani Mahottar composed a Churni on Nišitha-sútra. In a Mss. of this work, the date of its composition is mentioned as Sâka Samvat 598 (676 A.D.) Jinadása has mentioned the work Siddhi-vinischaya of Akalanka. So Akalanka cannot have flourished later than 676 A.D.
Pandit Sāstri quotes the following internal evidence from Akalanka's works which may be valuable to ascertain his date. Dignāga the celebrated Buddhist philosopher in laying down the definition
sa Pramāna has mentioned that Pratyaksa is 'Kalpanābodha.' Dharmakirti who was later than Dignāga added 'Abhrânta' to it, in defining Pratyakșa. Akalanka in his Tattvârtha-râjavârtiká has criticised the definition of Pratyakṣa Pramāņa as laid down by Dignāga. A verse from Dignāga's Pramâna-samuchchaya has also been quoted by Akalanka.t
Pandit Sāstri is of opinion that as Akalanka has not criticised Dharmakirti's definition of Pramāna in his Tattvârtha-raja-vârtiká, though he criticised views of Dharmakirti in his other works, we may infer that Dharmakirti's works Pramâņavārtika, Pramana-vinischaya etc. were composed later than Tattvärtharaja-vârtika. In Tattvartha-râja-vârtika Akalanka has quoted a verse which is said to be the first verse of the Prakarana entitled 'Santânantara-siddhi' of Dharmakirti. Pandit Sāstri holds the view that as Dharmakirti flourished from 635 to 650 A.D., Akalanka's date can be ascertained from this.
* विक्रमार्कशताब्दीयशतसप्तप्रमाजुषि । कालेऽकलंकपतिनो बौद्धैर्बादो महानभूत ।।
-Epigraphia Carriatika II. Introduction. + प्रत्यक्ष कल्पनापोढ नामजात्यादियोजना। असाधारणहेतुत्वादक्षस्तव्यपदिश्यते॥
---Pramana-samuchchaya by Dignāga. बुद्धिपूर्वी क्रिया दृष्टा स्वदेहेऽन्यत्र तद्ग्रहात् । मन्यते बुद्धिसभावं सा न येषु न तेषु धीः ।।
---Tattvârtharâja-cârtika p. 19.
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