Nyayavatara and Nayakarnika

Author(s): Siddhasena Divakar, Vinayvijay, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Jain Sahitya Vikas Mandal

Page 46

Siddhasena and his Works
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forth comprehensively a rational and logical exposition of Naya and Anekānta-vāda. The Āpatamīmāṁsā of Samantabhadra and Anekānta-jayapatākā of Haribhadra etc. are subsequent attempts.
The greatness of a hero and of a man of letters gets glorified even outside his circle or paramparā. Digambara authors like Jinasena in his Harivamsa-purāņa, Jinasena (II) in his Adipurāņa, Anantavīrya in his commentary on the Siddhiviniscaya and Lakşmībhadra etc. have given high position to Divākara whose works have not been in any way less authoritative. Akalanka quotes a famous verse of Divākara in his Tattvārtha-Rūjavārttika and Vidyānanda (alias Pātrakesari) substantiates his Vārttikas in his Slokavārttika by quoting Gāthās from the Sanmati as an authority. Nor has Anantavirya ignored the Gāthās of the Sanmati in his commentary. It seems further as if the Laghīyastrayam of Akalanka is a replica or reflection of the Sanmati.
Though Divākara's influence is seen allround, it is rather striking that no one has written anything by way of commentary on his works other than the Sanmati and Nyāyāvatāra. May be that the rigorously logical scrutiny of Siddhasena was so upsetting, or his gifted scholarship was so awe-striking that his important Drātrissikās came to be neglected, howsoever greeted he might have been for his learning. It appears that very few read them. That is why even the twentyone of them now available are so corrupt that it would involve great labour to restore them correctly.
Divākara's works available today are the Sanmati, 21 Dvātrimśikās, Nyāyāvatāra and Kalyāṇamandira. The Sanmati differs from others in its language and contents; it is in Prākrit, while all others are in Sanskrit. As to the Dvā.s, each one deals with a different topic. Some of the opening ones are poetical hymns in praise of Mahāvīra; many of them are expositions of non-Jaina Darsanas; and one of them deals with the art and technique of disputation. The Nyāyāvatāra deals with Jaina Nyāya, while the Kalyānamandira is a Stuti of Pārsvanātha. Haribhadra and Madhyācārya seem to have been inspired by the Dvā.s to study different Indian systems of philosophy or Darsanas. If the Sanmati primarily deals with Jaina philosophy, the Dvā.s cover various Indian philosophical schools. Siddhasena's command over Sanskrit and his poetic talents are remarkable. He shows deep study and sharp intellect. He is a fear