Jnanasrimitra And His Work

Author(s): Anantlal Thakur
Publisher: Anantlal Thakur

Page 7

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JNANASRIMITRA AND HIS WORKS
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As a logician Jñānaśri had to face eminent Nyāya scholars like Sankara, the author of the Sthirasiddhi; Bhasarvajña, the author of the Nyayabhuṣaṇa, Trilocana, the author of the Nyayamanjari1 and Vacaspatimiśra I who is called sarvatantras vatantra, an independent thinker in all the systems of Brahmanical philosophy. Jñānaśri regards these as the four pillars of the edifice of the Varṇāśrama culture and spares no pains to refute them. Vittoka and Satānanda are two more important figures whose views have been criticised in connection with the refutation of the theory of God. We may point out in this connection that these quotations and references are of immense value to a student of logic, since most of the works are lost.
Among the Mimāṁsakas, Kumārila, Kāśikākāra (Sucaritamiśra) and Mahodadhi (author of the Mimams āmahodadhi) have been mentioned and the Bṛhaṭṭikā (of Kumārila), the Vidhiviveka (of Mandanamiśra) and the Nyayakanikā (of Vacaspati) have been quoted.
We miss here any reference to the Jaina philosophers for want of his contemplated Anekāntacinta in refutation of the Jaina theory of non-absolutism. Nothing shows that he actually wrote it.
. The influence of Jñānaśri has been left in all the three branches of Indian Logic-Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jaina. In the Brahmanical side we find Udayana's Bauddhaddhikkāra otherwise called the Atmatattvaviveka devoted mainly to the refutation of the views of Jñanaśrī as found in the Kṣanabhang ādhyāya and the Säkärasiddhiśästra. His Nyayavārtikatātparyapariśuddhi also criticises Jñānaśrī. The Kiranavali gives a summary of his views on momentariness. Gangesa quotes a verse from the Kṣaṇabhangadhyaya in the Fattvacintamani, Sankaramiśra was conversant with the works of our author. He mentions Jñānaśrīmitra as an authority on Buddhist philosophy along with Dignaga, Dharma
1. Nyayamanjari of Guru Trilocana JBRS. Vol. XII
2, cf • • • व्यवस्थित प्रतिसन्धातृवावस्तु प्रस्तोष्यते ऽनेकान्तचिन्तायाम ।
(क्षणभङ्गाध्याये 4b. 6)