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CHAPTER VIII
PHILOSOPHICAL DOCTRINES
A considerable number of philosophical doctrines is mentioned and discussed by Somadeva in Yasastilaka. The first section (Kalpa) of Book VI is interesting as a summary of the theories of salvation propounded by different schools of thought, followed by critical remarks on the opinions recorded by the author. The section is called Samasta-samaya-siddhāntâvabodhana, 'Elucidation of the doctrines of all the schools', and important as a collection of philosophical tenets current in the tenth century. Another set of opinions is recorded in Book V in the episode of Candakarman and Sudatta, in which the former and his companions give an exposition of the doctrines followed by them, while the latter criticizes and tries to refute all of them. If we add to these the various Jaina doctrines explained and discussed in Yasastilaka, it will not be an exaggeration to describe the work as serving the purpose of a veritable compendium of the philosophical speculations of the age. The principal doctrines summarized in the romance are here grouped together according to the system to which they belong.
VAISESIKA DOCTRINES
Somadeva refers to two classes of Vaiseṣika thinkers: the Tarkika Vaiseṣikas and the Saiddhanta Vaiseṣikas. The main difference.between the two schools of Vaiseșika philosophy is that the Saiddhantas were Śaivas or worshippers of Siva' and laid stress on faith; while the Tarkikas were followers of the Vaiseṣika system proper and laid stress on knowledge. The Saiddhantas held that salvation is the outcome of faith as manifested in
initiation into the cult revealed by the omniscient Śiva in his two aspects, corporeal and incorporeal'. It may be mentioned in this connection that, according to Haribhadra's Saddarsanasamuccaya (vv. 13,59), both the Naiyayikas and Vaiseṣikas were worshippers of Siva. Gunaratna mentions in his commentary four sects among the followers of Siva: Saivas, Pasupatas and two others, and adds that the Naiyayikas were called Saivas, while the Vaiseşikas were called Pasupatas. There was, however, a distinct school of Pasupatas with doctrines of their own, and these do not seem to have been
1 The Siddhantas or the Śivasiddhantas are the Saiva scriptures, and the Saivas were often called Saiddhantikas, e. g. in the Gurgi inscription of Prabodhasiva ( ¶¤ fara). See Chap. XIII for this inscription.
2 ' सकल निष्कलाप्त प्राप्तमन्त्रतत्रापेक्षादीक्षा लक्षणाच्छ्रद्धा मात्रानुसरणान्मोक्षः इति सैद्धान्तवैशेषिकाः । Vol II, p. 269.
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