Nyaya-Vaisheshika categories (Study)
by Diptimani Goswami | 2014 | 61,072 words
This page relates ‘Conclusion� of the study on the Nyaya-Vaisheshika categories with special reference to the Tarkasangraha by Annambhatta. Both Nyaya and Vaisesika are schools of ancient Indian Philosophy, and accepted in their system various padarthas or objects of valid knowledge. This study investigates how the Tarkasamgraha reflects these categories in the combined Nyayavaisesika school.
Chapter 9 - Conclusion
From our foregoing discussion it is clear that ղ첹ṃg of ԲԲṃbṭṭ is an excellent work on the philosophy of ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 which may be regarded as a door to the system. ԲԲṃbṭṭ’s work is easy and simple. Because of its simplicity of style and lucidity of language this book is invariably prescribed for the beginners by the Universities of India. The work itself is not a detail one and ԲԲṃbṭṭ has not discussed the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 categories very elaborately. It is found that he has not endeavoured to criticize any opponent view in this work. Even definitions are put forward very minutely as has been the practice of the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 philosophers. This defect of the work has been rectified by him in his own commentary ղ첹ī辱 or ī辱. In this commentary the author has delved deep into the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 doctrines by sometimes elaborately, sometimes defending his own views expressed in the ղ첹ṃg. So in the foregoing study these two works are taken together for showing ԲԲṃbṭṭ’s contribution. It is also found that ԲԲṃbṭṭ has not deviated from his predecessors regarding different concepts of ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 philosophy and as a whole he follows faithfully their doctrines.
Now, in the following lines we are going to collect together our findings.
1. ղ첹ṃg is a work of syncretic school of ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 and as such it accepts the seven categories of the ղśṣi첹 School and four ṇa of the ⲹ school. In dealing with the categories he generally follows Navya ⲹ views and uses Navya ⲹ terminology to some extent in the ī辱.
2. There is some controversy regarding the exact date of ԲԲṃbṭṭ. Scholars differ among themselves about his date, the time varying from 15th century A.D. to 18th century A.D. However, from the discussions of different arguments it can be concluded that ԲԲṃbṭṭ flourished in 17th century A.D.
3. ԲԲṃbṭṭ maintains that all things of the world and their relationship with one another come under the seven independent categories. Among the seven categories, the first six have existence, nameability and knowability. These categories are objects of the positive notion of being. The seventh one also has existence etc. but is the object of negative notion and depends on its counter entity.
4. ԲԲṃbṭṭ brings ⲹ category of ṇa under the quality buddhi, as is done by most of the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 writers of syncretic school.
5. In defining ٲⲹṣa, ԲԲṃbṭṭ follows the earlier ⾱첹 and defines it as that knowledge which is produced by the ԲԾ첹ṣa of an object with a senseorgan. ԲԲṃbṭṭ has not at all mentioned about the perceptual knowledge of God etc. where no sense-object–contact is necessary. This point has not been clarified by him though the Navya ⲹ philosophers discussed about it critically.
6. ԲԲṃbṭṭ has not at all discussed about the concept of alaukika ٲⲹṣa (extra-ordinary perception) which is discussed in detail by other ⲹ-ղśṣi첹s like վśٳ etc.
7. ԲԲṃbṭṭ has not defined dravya in his ղ첹ṃg but gives a definition of it in the ī辱 as that which possesses the universal of dravyatva or which possesses quality. He himself shows that the second definition can also be reduced to the first definition. This definition of substance, i.e., possessing ⲹٱپ, is accepted as faultless definition of substance by all the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 writers.
8. Elaborate descriptions of the substances like earth, water, fire, air and ether are found in ղ첹ṃg and ī辱. While discussing fire ԲԲṃbṭṭ has put forward arguments to prove that gold is tejas and not ṛt.. This argument is actually in line with all the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 writers. About other substances ղ첹ṃg offers mere descriptions.
9. In the ī辱, ԲԲṃbṭṭ has raised a question regarding the proof of the existence of God. He offers inference as proof here. Here also ԲԲṃbṭṭ has not shown any novelty, but follows other philosophers of this school. Thus he says that as it is a general rule that every effect must have a cause and as the universe is an effect, so it also must have a cause. This cause is God.
10. So far as the ղśṣi첹 theory of atom is concerned ԲԲṃbṭṭ argues in his ī辱 that atom as the minutest part of earth etc. has to be accepted, otherwise the mountain Meru and the mustard seed will be of equal size. The creation process from the atoms with the creative will of God as the efficient cause has been discussed in a few lines.
11. ԲԲṃbṭṭ has only enumerated the twenty-four kinds of ṇa in ղ첹ṃg and defines it in ī辱. He gives two definitions which are critically discussed by him again and concludes that the definition ṇatvajātiman (possessing the universal ṇatva) is preferable for its brevity of expression.
12. There are different opinions on the divisions of ṇa. ṇād mentions seventeen ṇas. Praśastapāda adds seven more ṇas. ԲԲṃbṭṭ, like other modern ⲹ-ղśṣi첹s, accept twenty-four ṇas. Some philosophers add some more ṇas to these like ūٱ, ṛdܳٱ and 첹ṻԲٱ. ԲԲṃbṭṭ is against this view and argues that these are only opposites of gurutva etc.
13. Regarding pākajaṇa, ԲԲṃbṭṭ supports the ղśṣi첹 view of īܱ첹岹. He maintains that change of colour etc.in earth through the action of fire takes place only in atoms and not in 屹ⲹ첹 etc.
14. 峾Բⲹ is not regarded as an objective reality of ṇād and Praśastapāda. But the latter ⲹ-ղśṣi첹s including ԲԲṃbṭṭ accept the objective reality of 峾Բⲹ and accept it to be the basis of the idea of common character among different individuals. ԲԲṃbṭṭ gives a simple definition of 峾Բⲹ which actually serves the purpose of describing it. But he explains this definition minutely and removes the defect pertaining to it in ī辱. He defines it as that which is eternal, one and exists in many. He shows that here ‘exists� means exists in the relation of ⲹ. This is the view of all the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 philosophers. ԲԲṃbṭṭ has not at all discussed about the jātibādhakas which occupy an important place in ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 polemics.
15. Regarding the category śṣa, ԲԲṃbṭṭ offers only a description. վśṣa is the ultimate distinguishing factor of aneternal substance. The Navya ⲹ philosophers maintain that it is svato 屹ٲ첹 (self-distinguishing) and as such is called antya (ultimate). It differentiates all eternal substances, but there is no other differentiator of śṣa, it is the ultimate differentiator and can differentiate itself also. The character of śṣa has not been highlighted by ԲԲṃbṭṭ. He simply says that śṣas are differentiators.
16. Relation plays an important role in ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 philosophy, They have discussed about many types of relations. Of these ṃyDz and 屹ⲹ are important. ԲԲṃbṭṭ discusses about ṃyDz in connection with ṇa. He also describes different types of ṃyDz, which are all in the line of the general ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 thought. He also defines ⲹ as eternal relation which remains in two ayutasiddha things. His definition of ayutasiddha is accepted by all and is very exact.
17. It is noticed that the theory of 屹ⲹ at first was postulated in connection with the concept of causation. Later on this concept was extended to include all inseparable things.
18. 屹 is accepted as a separate category by all the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹s including ԲԲṃbṭṭ. The ⲹ-ղśṣi첹s have faced the greatest objection from the Buddhists and the ʰ첹 īṃs첹 regarding the reality of 屹. Actually the concept of 屹 developed through their conflict with these schools. ԲԲṃbṭṭ has not defined 屹 but enumerates the different kinds of it. He also defines these different types of 屹. In the ī辱 he also refutes the ʰ첹 view regarding 屹.
19. Regarding the concept of cause also ԲԲṃbṭṭ’s view is not at all different. He defines cause as that which invariably precedes the effect. But this definition is deficient as it does not take care of the essential condition of Բⲹٳ in the definition. However, this is rectified by him in the ī辱.
In this way it is found that ԲԲṃbṭṭ has followed the general trend of the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 philosophers in dealing with the different categories of the system. In fact before the advent of ԲԲṃbṭṭ, all these concepts have been established refuting all rival attacks. ԲԲṃbṭṭ has found these concepts in their developed form and he has not tried to add anything to these already existing concepts.
But even then the works of ԲԲṃbṭṭ are not devoid of importance. The importance of ղ첹ṃg and ī辱 lies in the fact that here the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 concepts are presented in a lucid and systematic manner avoiding the jugglery of language found in other ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 works. The Navya ⲹ language style is not totally absent here, but is found in the ī辱 only, that also for explicating different ideas. That is why, ԲԲṃbṭṭ’s work is prescribed for the beginners of Indian logic. But this work is also useful to the advanced learners, because it presents the ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 theories in a precise and comprehensive manner. Hence, the importance of ԲԲṃbṭṭ in the field of the study ⲹ-ղśṣi첹 logic can never be over-estimated.