Mahavidya Vidambanam

Author(s): Bhatta Vadindra, Bhuvansundarsuri, Mangesh Ramkrishna Telang
Publisher: Central Library

Page 18

gisms is Amalananda alias Vyâsâśrama (about A. D. 1247-1260), the author of (1) Vedant Kalpataru,' a commentary on the well-known Bhâmati of Vâchaspati Miśra and (2) Sastra-darpaņa,. an original treatise on the Adhikaranas of Branha Sutras.
The next reference to Mahavidya is by Anandajnána better known as Anandagiri (A.D. 1260-1320) in his able work Tarkasangraha which is a refutation of the various definitions of the categories &c. current in the Vaiseshika and Nyáya systems of philosophy. For the sake of the convenience of the reader, full quotations from this as well as other works referring to Mahavidya, Kulárka Pandita and Vádîndra are given in a separate statement after this Introduction.
The next author who refers to Mahavidya, Vadindra and his Mahavidya Vidamban is the great Rámánuja Philosopher Srivenkatanátha well known by the epithet Vedântâchârya. He lived between A.D. 1267-1369.* In his tw works on the system of Rámánuja's philosophy viz. Nyáyaparishuddhis and Tattva-Mukta-Kalapa, Venkatanatha refers to Mahavidyâ syllogisms. In the latter work he further mentions Vádîndra and his (Mahavidya) Vidambana also. He has refuted Vâdîndra's view that the Kevalanvayi-hetu is entirely untenable. He agrees that the method of Mahâvidyâ is not sound but holds that the Kevalânvayi-hetu with a Kevalanyayi-sâdhya is sound and can be logically established.
The next reference to Mahâvidyâ-vidambana under the name of Daśa. sloki-vidambana and to its author Vâdîndra is made by sesha Śârngadhara in his Nyâya-Muktavali' which is a commentary on the Lakshanâvali of the celebrated Naiyâyika Udayanâchârya. Sesha Śârngadhara flourished about A. D, 1450.8
Further we find that Pratyagrûpabhagavân has mentioned Kulärkao 1 एवं सर्वा महाविद्यास्तच्छाया वान्ये प्रयोगाः खण्डनीया इति । वेदान्तकल्पतरुः अ. २ पा. २ सू. ३७
(8.9 € u fã. .) 2 महाविद्यावेतद्विषया वेदान्तकल्पतरौ निर्भसिताः । शास्त्रदर्पणः अ. १ पा. २ अधि ५.
(8.936 auffante) 3 Vide Anandajnana's Tarkasangrahs p. 22 published as No. III of this series (Gackwad's Oriental series.)
4 Vide the preface of alcançar 7446104 Vol I (Váni Vilás Edition):
5 Vide Nyâyaparishuddhi, pages 125, 126, 273 to 276 and 278, (Choukhambá Edition).
6 Vide Tattwamukta-Kalapa with Sarvârtha-siddhi, pages 478, 485, and 486 to 491 (Reprint from Pandit, Benares).
7 Vide Lakshanayali pages 6, 23, and 42. (Reprint from Pandit, Benares).
8 Vide Introdudtion to Tarkasangraha of Anandajnans p. xviii (Gaekwad's oriental series). Dr. Arthur Venice in his bibliographical note on Lakohanavali places Sesha Sharngadhara between the 15th and 17th centurios.
9 See Tattvapradipikâ p. 304. (N. 8. Edition).
Aho ! Shrutgyanam