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CHAPTER IX SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
In the preceding chapter we have summarized the doctrines of the various non-Jaina systems recorded or discussed by Somadeva in Yasastilaka; and we may here enumerate the different systems mentioned by the author and bring together some additional information bearing on the character and historical position of certain of these schools of thought. Towards the beginning of Book VI Somadeva mentions the following schools: Saiddhanta Vaiseṣikas, Tārkika Vaiśeşikas, Followers of Kanada; Pasupatas; Kulācāryas;1 Samkhyas, Kapilas; Buddhists mentioned separately as (1) the Disciples of Dasabala, (2) Tāthāgataḥ, and (3) those who preach the doctrine of the Void; Jaiminiyas; Bārhaspatyas or the followers of the Lokayata system; Followers of the Vedanta philosophy mentioned twice as Vedantavādins and Brahmadvaitavadins.
It will be seen that some of the schools of thought are mentioned more than once by way of demonstrating different aspects of the views held by them. In addition to these, Somadeva records Saiva doctrines and the views of those who believed in the efficacy of Vedic sacrifices. The followers of these schools of thought were obviously contemporaries of Somadeva and so prevailed in the tenth century. It is interesting to compare the non-Jaina systems described in Yasastilaka with the non-Buddhist systems recorded in the ancient Tamil Buddhist Kavya Manimekhalai. Chapter XXVII of that work considers ten such systems: (1) the Pramāṇavāda of the Vaidika systems, (2) Saivavada (3) Brahmavada (4) Nārāyaṇiya or Vaiṣṇavavāda (5) Vedavāda (6) Ajivaka (7) Nirgrantha i. e. Jaina (8) Samkhya (9) Vaiseṣika and (10) Bhutavada or the Lokayata system. If we compare the two lists, we shall find that Vaisnavavada is a notable omission in Somadeva's summary, while the latter makes only a passing reference to the Ajivikas without mentioning anything about their doctrines.
It may also be pointed out that Somadeva makes a general reference to the four systems (Samayas) in Yasastilaka, II. 32 and the four systems and the six schools of philosophy (Darśanas) in Book IV. Śrutasagara in his commentary on II. 32 explains the four Samayas as the Jaina, Śaiva, Vaidika,
1 It is not clear why Somadeva connects Trika-mata with the doctrines of the Kulācāryas. The Trika system usually refers to the Kashmir School of S'aivism.
2 Aiyangar: Manimekhalai in its historical setting, p. 189 ff.
3
चत्वार एते सहजाः समुद्रा यथैव लोके ऋतवोऽपि षट् च । चत्वार एते समयास्तथैव षड् दर्शनानीति वदन्ति सन्तः ॥ Vol. II, p. 114.
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