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[Footnote 1: Professor Vanamâlî Vedântatîrtha's article in _J.A.S.B._,
1908.]
[Footnote 2: Caraka (I.i. 33) says that sâmânya is
that which produces unity and vis'esa is that which separates. V.S.
II. ii. 7. Sâmânya and vis'esa depend upon our mode of thinking
(as united or as separate).]
[Footnote 3: _Vais'esika sûtra_ (II. ii. 9 and V. ii.
26).]
systems that we have can we trace any upholding of this ancient
view [Footnote ref 1]. These considerations as well as the general style of
the work and the methods of discussion lead me to think that these
sûtras are probably the oldest that we have and in all probability
are pre-Buddhistic.
The _Vais'esika sûtra_ begins with the statement that its object
is to explain virtue, "dharma" This is we know the manifest
duty of Mîmâmsâ and we know that unlike any other system Jaimini
begins his _Mîmâmsâ sûtras_ by defining "dharma". This
at first seems irrelevant to the main purpose of Vais'esika, viz, the
description of the nature of padartha [Footnote ref 2]. He then
defines dharma as that which gives prosperity and ultimate good (_nihsreyasa_)
and says that the Veda must be regarded as valid, since it can dictate
this. He ends his book with the remarks that those injunctions (of
Vedic deeds) which are performed for ordinary human motives bestow
prosperity even though their efficacy is not known to us through our
ordinary experience, and in this matter the Veda must be regarded as
the authority which dictates those acts [Footnote ref 3]. The fact
that the Vais'esika begins with a promise to describe dharma and after
describing the nature of substances, qualities and actions and also
the _adrsta_ (unknown virtue) due to dharma (merit accruing from the
performance of Vedic deeds) by which many of our unexplained
experiences may be explained, ends his book by saying that those Vedic
works which are not seen to produce any direct effect, will produce
prosperity through adrsta, shows that Kanâda's method of explaining
dharma has been by showing that physical phenomena involving
substances, qualities, and actions can only be explained up to a
certain extent while a good number cannot be explained at all except
on the assumption of adrsta (unseen virtue) produced by dharma. The
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[Footnote 1: S'vetâs'vatara I.i.2]
[Footnote 2: I remember a verse quoted in an old
commentary of the _Kalâpa Vyâkarana_, in which it is said that the
description of the six categories by Kanâda in his _Vais'esika
sûtras_, after having proposed to describe the nature of dharma, is
as irrelevant as to proceed towards the sea while intending to go to
the mountain Himavat (Himâlaya).
"_Dnarmam vyâkhyâtukâmasya
satpadârthopavarnanam Himavadgantukâmasya sâgaragamanopamam_."]
[Footnote 3: The sutra "_Tadvacanâd âmnâyasya
prâmânyam_ (I.i.3 and X.ii.9) has been explained by _Upaskâra_ as
meaning "The Veda being the word of Îs'vara (God) must be
regarded as valid," but since there is no mention of Îs'vara
anywhere in the text this is simply reading the later Nyâya ideas
into the Vais'esika. Sûtra X.ii.8 is only a repetition of VI.ii.1.]
description of the categories of substance is not irrelevant, but
is the means of proving that our ordinary experience of these cannot
explain many facts which are only to be explained on the supposition
of adrsta proceeding out of the performance of Vedic deeds. In V.i. 15
the movement of needles towards magnets, in V. ii. 7 the circulation
of water in plant bodies, V. ii. 13 and IV. ii. 7 the upward motion of
fire, the side motion of air, the combining movement of atoms (by
which all combinations have taken place), and the original movement of
the mind are said to be due to adrsta. In V. ii. 17 the movement of
the soul after death, its taking hold of other bodies, the
assimilation of food and drink and other kinds of contact (the
movement and development of the foetus as enumerated in _Upaskara_)
are said to be due to adrsta. Salvation (moksa) is said to be produced
by the annihilation of adrsta leading to the annihilation of all
contacts and non production of rebirths Vais'esika marks the
distinction between the drsta (experienced) and the adrsta. All the
categories that he describes are founded on drsta (experience) and
those unexplained by known experience are due to adrsta These are the
acts on which depend all life-process of animals and plants, the
continuation of atoms or the construction of the worlds, natural
motion of fire and air, death and rebirth (VI. ii. 15) and even the
physical phenomena by which our fortunes are affected in some way or
other (V. ii. 2), in fact all with which we are vitally interested in
philosophy. Kanâda's philosophy gives only some facts of experience
regarding substances, qualities and actions, leaving all the graver
issues of metaphysics to adrsta But what leads to adrsta? In answer to
this, Kanâda does not speak of good or bad or virtuous or sinful
deeds, but of Vedic works, such as holy ablutions (_snana_), fasting,
holy student life (_brahmacarya_), remaining at the house of the
teacher (_gurukulavasa_), retired forest life (_vanaprastha_),
sacrifice (_yajña_), gifts (_dana_), certain kinds of sacrificial
sprinkling and rules of performing sacrificial works according to the
prescribed time of the stars, the prescribed hymns (mantras) (VI. ii.
2).
He described what is pure and what is impure food, pure food being
that which is sacrificially purified (VI. ii. 5) the contrary being
impure, and he says that the taking of pure food leads to prosperity
through adrsta. He also described how feelings of attachment to things
are also generated by adrsta. Throughout almost the whole of VI. i
Kanâda is busy in showing the special conditions of making gifts and
receiving them. A reference to our chapter on Mîmâmsâ will show
that the later Mîmâmsâ writers agreed with the Nyâya-Vais`esika
doctrines in most of their views regarding substance, qualities, etc.
Some of the main points in which Mîmâmsâ differs from
Nyâya-Vais`esika are (1) self-validity of the Vedas, (2) the
eternality of the Vedas, (3) disbelief in any creator or god, (4)
eternality of sound (s'abda), (5) (according to Kumârila) direct
perception of self in the notion of the ego. Of these the first and
the second points do not form any subject of discussion in the
Vais'esika. But as no Îs'vara is mentioned, and as all adrsta depends
upon the authority of the Vedas, we may assume that Vais'esika had no
dispute with Mîmâmsâ. The fact that there is no reference to any
dissension is probably due to the fact that really none had taken
place at the time of the _Vais`esika sûtras._ It is probable that
Kanâda believed that the Vedas were written by some persons superior
to us (II. i. 18, VI. i. 1-2). But the fact that there is no reference
to any conflict with Mîmâmsâ suggests that the doctrine that the
Vedas were never written by anyone was formulated at a later period,
whereas in the days of the _Vais'esika sûtras,_ the view was probably
what is represented in the _Vais'esika sûtras._ As there is no
reference to Îs`vara and as adrsta proceeding out of the performance
of actions in accordance with Vedic injunctions is made the cause of
all atomic movements, we can very well assume that Vais'esika was as
atheistic or non-theistic as the later Mîmâmsâ philosophers. As
regards the eternality of sound, which in later days was one of the
main points of quarrel between the Nyâya-Vais'esika and the
Mîmâmsâ, we find that in II. ii. 25-32, Kanâda gives reasons in
favour of the non-eternality of sound, but after that from II. ii. 33
till the end of the chapter he closes the argument in favour of the
eternality of sound, which is the distinctive Mîmâmsâ view as we
know from the later Mîmâmsâ writers [Footnote ref 1]. Next comes
the question of the proof of the existence of self. The traditional
Nyâya view is
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[Footnote 1: The last two concluding sûtras II. ii.
36 and 37 are in my opinion wrongly interpreted by S'ankara Mis'ra
in his _Upaskâra_ (II. ii. 36 by adding an "_api_" to the
sûtra and thereby changing the issue, and II. ii. 37 by misreading
the phonetic combination "samkhyabhava" as sâmkhya and
bhava instead of sâmkhya and abhava, which in my opinion is the
right combination here) in favour of the non-eternality of sound as
we find in the later Nyâya Vais'esika view.]
that the self is supposed to exist because it must be inferred as
the seat of the qualities of pleasure, pain, cognition, etc.
Traditionally this is regarded as the Vais'esika view as well. But in
Vais'esika III. ii. 4 the existence of soul is first inferred by
reason of its activity and the existence of pleasure, pain, etc., in
III. ii. 6-7 this inference is challenged by saying that we do not
perceive that the activity, etc. belongs to the soul and not to the
body and so no certainty can be arrived at by inference, and in III.
ii. 8 it is suggested that therefore the existence of soul is to be
accepted on the authority of the scriptures (_âgama_). To this the
final Vais'esika conclusion is given that we can directly perceive the
self in our feeling as "I" (_aham_), and we have therefore
not to depend on the scriptures for the proof of the existence of the
self, and thus the inference of the existence of the self is only an
additional proof of what we already find in perception as
"I" (_aham_) (III. ii. 10-18, also IX. i. 11).
These considerations lead me to think that the Vais'esika
represented a school of Mîmâmsâ thought which supplemented a
metaphysics to strengthen the grounds of the Vedas.
Philosophy in the Vais'esika sûtras.
The _Vais'esika sûtras_ begin with the ostensible purpose of
explaining virtue (_dharma_) (I.i. 1) and dharma according to it is
that by which prosperity (_abhyudaya_) and salvation (_nihs'reyasa_)
are attained. Then it goes on to say that the validity of the Vedas
depends on the fact that it leads us to prosperity and salvation. Then
it turns back to the second sûtra and says that salvation comes as
the result of real knowledge, produced by special excellence of
dharma, of the characteristic features of the categories of substance
(_dravya_), quality (_guna_), class concept (_sâmdânya_),
particularity (_vis'esa_), and inherence (_samavâyay_) [Footnote ref
1]. The dravyas are earth, water, fire, air, ether, time, space, soul,
and mind. The gunas are colour, taste, odour, touch, number, measure,
separations, contact, disjoining, quality of belonging to high genus
or to species [Footnote ref 2]. Action (_karma_) means upward movement
___________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: _Upaskâra_ notes that vis'esa here
refers to the ultimate differences of things and not to species. A
special doctrine of this system is this, that each of the
indivisible atoms of even the same element has specific features of
difference.]
[Footnote 2: Here the well known qualities of
heaviness (_gurutva_), liquidity (_dravatva_), oiliness (_sneha_),
elasticity (_samskâra_), merit (_dharma_), and demerit (_adharma_)
have been altogether omitted. These are all counted in later
Vais'esika commentaries and compendiums. It must be noted that
"_guna_" in Vas'esika means qualities and not subtle reals
or substances as in Sâmkhya Yoga. Guna in Vas'esika would be akin
to what Yoga would call _dharma_.]
downward movement, contraction, expansion and horizontal movement.
The three common qualities of dravya, guna and karma are that they are
existent, non-eternal, substantive, effect, cause, and possess
generality and particularity. Dravya produces other dravyas and the
gunas other gunas. But karma is not necessarily produced by karma.
Dravya does not destroy either its cause or its effect but the gunas
are destroyed both by the cause and by the effect. Karma is destroyed
by karma. Dravya possesses karma and guna and is regarded as the
material (_samavayi_) cause. Gunas inhere in dravya, cannot possess
further gunas, and are not by themselves the cause of contact or
disjoining. Karma is devoid of guna, cannot remain at one time in more
than one object, inheres in dravya alone, and is an independent cause
of contact or disjoining. Dravya is the material cause (samavayi) of
(derivative) dravyas, guna, and karma, guna is also the non-material
cause (_asamavayi_) of dravya, guna and karma. Karma is the general
cause of contact, disjoining, and inertia in motion (_vega_). Karma is
not the cause of dravya. For dravya may be produced even without karma
[Footnote ref 1]. Dravya is the general effect of dravya. Karma is
dissimilar to guna in this that it does not produce karma. The numbers
two, three, etc, separateness, contact and disjoining are effected by
more than one dravya. Each karma not being connected with more than
one thing is not produced by more than one thing [Footnote ref 2]. A
dravya is the result of many contacts (of the atoms). One colour may
be the result of many colours. Upward movement is the result of
heaviness, effort and contact. Contact and disjoining are also the
result of karma. In denying the causality of karma it is meant that
karma is not the cause of dravya and karma [Footnote ref 3].
In the second chapter of the first book Kanâda first says that if
there is no cause, there is no effect, but there may be the cause even
though there may not be the effect. He next says that genus (_samanya_)
and species (_visesa_) are relative to the understanding;
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[Footnote 1: It is only when the karya ceases that dravya is produced. See
_Upaskara_ I.i. 22.]
[Footnote 2: If karma is related to more than one thing, then with the
movement of one we should have felt that two or more things were moving.]
[Footnote 3: It must be noted that karma in this sense is quite different
from the more extensive use of karma as meritorious or vicious action
which is the cause of rebirth.]
being (_bhâva_) indicates continuity only and is hence
only a genus. The universals of substance, quality and action
maybe both genus and species, but visesa as constituting the ultimate
differences (of atoms) exists (independent of any percipient).
In connection with this he says that the ultimate genus is being (_sattâ_) in virtue of which things appear as existent, all other
genera may only relatively be regarded as relative genera or
species. Being must be regarded as a separate category, since it
is different from dravya, guna and karma, and yet exists in them,
and has no genus or species. It gives us the notion that something
is and must be regarded as a category existing as one
identical entity in all dravya, guna, and karma, for in its universal
nature as being it has no special characteristics in the
different objects in which it inheres. The specific universals of
thingness (_dravyatva_) qualitiness (_gunatva_) or actionness (_karmatva_)
are also categories which are separate from universal being (_bhâva_ or _sattâ_) for they also have no separate genus or species
and yet may be distinguished from one another, but bhâva or
being was the same in all.
In the first chapter of the second book Kanâda deals with
substances. Earth possesses colour, taste, smell, and touch, water, colour, taste, touch, liquidity, and smoothness
(_snigdha_), fire,
colour and touch, air, touch, but none of these qualities can be
found in ether (_âkâs'a_). Liquidity is a special quality of water
because butter, lac, wax, lead, iron, silver, gold, become liquids
only when they are heated, while water is naturally liquid itself [Footnote
ref 1]. Though air cannot be seen, yet its existence can be inferred by
touch, just as the existence of the genus of cows may be inferred
from the characteristics of horns, tails, etc. Since this thing inferred
from touch possesses motion and quality, and does not
itself inhere in any other substance, it is a substance (dravya)
and is eternal [Footnote ref 2]. The inference of air is of the type of
inference of imperceptible things from certain known characteristics
called _sâmânyato drsta_. The name of air "_vâyu_" is derived
from the scriptures. The existence of others different from us
has (_asmadvis'istânâm_) to be admitted for accounting for the
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[Footnote 1: It should be noted that mercury is not mentioned. This is
important for mercury was known at a time later than Caraka.]
[Footnote 2: Substance is that which possesses quality and motion. It
should be noted that the word "_adravyatvena_" in II. i. 13 has been
interpreted by me as "_adravyavattvena_."]
giving of names to things (_samjñâkarma_). Because we find
that the giving of names is already in usage (and not invented
by us) [Footnote ref 1]. On account of the fact that movements rest only in
one thing, the phenomenon that a thing can enter into any unoccupied
space, would not lead us to infer the existence of âkâs'a
(ether). Âkâs'a has to be admitted as the hypothetical substance
in which the quality of sound inheres, because, since sound (a
quality) is not the characteristic of things which can be touched,
there must be some substance of which it is a quality. And this
substance is âkâs'a. It is a substance and eternal like air. As
being is one so âkâs'a is one [Footnote ref 2].
In the second chapter of the second book Kanâda tries to
prove that smell is a special characteristic of earth, heat of fire,
and coldness of water. Time is defined as that which gives the
notion of youth in the young, simultaneity, and quickness. It is
one like being. Time is the cause of all non-eternal things, because
the notion of time is absent in eternal things. Space
supplies the notion that this is so far away from this or so much
nearer to this. Like being it is one. One space appears to have
diverse inter-space relations in connection with the motion of the
sun. As a preliminary to discussing the problem whether sound
is eternal or not, he discusses the notion of doubt, which arises
when a thing is seen in a general way, but the particular features
coming under it are not seen, either when these are only remembered,
or when some such attribute is seen which resembles some
other attribute seen before, or when a thing is seen in one way
but appears in another, or when what is seen is not definitely
grasped, whether rightly seen or not. He then discusses the question
whether sound is eternal or non-eternal and gives his reasons
to show that it is non-eternal, but concludes the discussion with
a number of other reasons proving that it is eternal.
The first chapter of the third book is entirely devoted to the
inference of the existence of soul from the fact that there must
be some substance in which knowledge produced by the contact
of the senses and their object inheres.
The knowledge of sense-objects (_indriyârtha_) is the reason by
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[Footnote 1: I have differed from _Upaskâra_ in interpreting
"_samjñâkarma_" in II. i. 18, 19 as a genitive compound while _Upaskâra_ makes it a
_dvandva_ compound. Upaskâra's interpretation
seems to be far-fetched. He wants to twist it into an argument for
the existence of God.]
[Footnote 2: This interpretation is according to
S'ankara Mis'ra's _Upaskâra._]
which we can infer the existence of something different from the
senses and the objects which appear in connection with them. The
types of inferences referred to are (1) inference of non-existence of
some things from the existence of some things, (2) of the existence
of some things from the non-existence of some things, (3) of the
existence of some things from the existence of others. In all
these cases inference is possible only when the two are known to
be connected with each other (_prasiddhipûrvakatvât apades'asya_) [Footnote
ref 1]. When such a connection does not exist or is doubtful, we have
_anapades'a_ (fallacious middle) and _sandigdha_ (doubtful middle);
thus, it is a horse because it has a horn, or it is a cow because it
has a horn are examples of fallacious reason. The inference of
soul from the cognition produced by the contact of soul, senses
and objects is not fallacious in the above way. The inference of
the existence of the soul in others may be made in a similar way
in which the existence of one's own soul is inferred [Footnote ref 2], i.e.
by virtue of the existence of movement and cessation of movement. In
the second chapter it is said that the fact that there is cognition only
when there is contact between the self, the senses and the objects
proves that there is manas (mind), and this manas is a substance
and eternal, and this can be proved because there is no simultaneity
of production of efforts and various kinds of cognition; it
may also be inferred that this manas is one (with each person).
The soul may be inferred from inhalation, exhalation, twinkling
of the eye, life, the movement of the mind, the sense-affections
pleasure, pain, will, antipathy, and effort. That it is a substance
and eternal can be proved after the manner of vâyu. An objector
is supposed to say that since when I see a man I do not see his
soul, the inference of the soul is of the type of _sâmânyatodrsta_
inference, i.e., from the perceived signs of pleasure, pain, cognition
to infer an unknown entity to which they belong, but
that this was the self could not be affirmed. So the existence of
soul has to be admitted on the strength of the scriptures. But
the Vais'esika reply is that since there is nothing else but self to
which the expression "I" may be applied, there is no need of
falling back on the scriptures for the existence of the soul. But
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[Footnote 1: In connection with this there is a short reference to the
methods of fallacy in which Gautama's terminology does not appear.
There is no generalised statement, but specific types of inference
are only pointed out as the basis.]
[Footnote 2: The forms of inference used show that
Kanâda was probably not
aware of Gautama's terminology.]
then it is said that if the self is directly perceived in such experiences
as "I am Yajñadatta" or "I am Devadatta," what is the
good of turning to inference? The reply to this is that inference
lending its aid to the same existence only strengthens the conviction.
When we say that Devadatta goes or Yajñadatta goes,
there comes the doubt whether by Devadatta or Yajñadatta the
body alone is meant; but the doubt is removed when we think
that the notion of "I" refers to the self and not to anything else.
As there is no difference regarding the production of pleasure,
pain, and cognition, the soul is one in all. But yet it is many
by special limitations as individuals and this is also proved on
the strength of the scriptures [Footnote ref 1].
In the first chapter of the fourth book it is said that that
which is existent, but yet has no cause, should be considered
eternal (_nitya_). It can be inferred by its effect, for the effect can
only take place because of the cause. When we speak of anything
as non-eternal, it is only a negation of the eternal, so that
also proves that there is something eternal. The non-eternal
is ignorance (_avidyâ_) [Footnote ref 2]. Colour is visible in a thing
which is great (_mahat_) and compounded. Air (_vâyu_) is not perceived to
have colour, though it is great and made up of parts, because it has not
the actuality of colour (_rûpasamskâra_--i.e. in air there is only
colour in its unmanifested form) in it. Colour is thus visible only
when there is colour with special qualifications and conditions [Footnote
ref 3]. In this way the cognition of taste, smell, and touch is also
explained. Number, measure, separateness, contact, and disjoining, the
quality of belonging to a higher or lower class, action, all these as they
abide in things possessing colour are visible to the eye. The
number etc. of those which have no colour are not perceived by the
eye. But the notion of being and also of genus of quality (gunatva)
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[Footnote 1: I have differed here from the meaning given in _Upaskâra_. I
think the three sûtras "_Sukhaduhkhajñananispattyavis'esadekatmyam,"
"vyavasthato nana,"_ and _"vastrasâmarthyat ca"_ originally
meant that
the self was one, though for the sake of many limitations, and also
because of the need of the performance of acts enjoined by the scriptures,
they are regarded as many.]
[Footnote 2: I have differed here also in my meaning from the _Upaskâra,_
which regards this sûtra "_avidya_" to mean that we do not know of
any
reasons which lead to the non-eternality of the atoms.]
[Footnote 3: This is what is meant in the later distinctions of
_udbhûtarûpavattva_ and _anudbhûtarûpavattva_. The word _samskâra_ in
Vais'esika has many senses. It means inertia, elasticity, collection
(_samavaya_), production (_udbhava_) and not being overcome (_anabhibhava_). For the last three senses see
_Upaskâra_ IV. i. 7.]
are perceived by all the senses (just as colour, taste, smell, touch,
and sound are perceived by one sense, cognition, pleasure, pain,
etc. by the manas and number etc. by the visual and the tactile
sense) [Footnote ref 1].
In the second chapter of the fourth book it is said that the
earth, etc. exist in three forms, body, sense, and objects. There
cannot be any compounding of the five elements or even of the
three, but the atoms of different elements may combine when one
of them acts as the central radicle (_upastambhaka_). Bodies are of
two kinds, those produced from ovaries and those which are otherwise
produced by the combination of the atoms in accordance
with special kinds of dharma. All combinations of atoms are due
to special kinds of dharmas. Such super-mundane bodies are to
be admitted for explaining the fact that things must have been
given names by beings having such super-mundane bodies, and
also on account of the authority of the Vedas.
In the first chapter of the fifth book action (_karma_) is discussed.
Taking the example of threshing the corn, it is said
that the movement of the hand is due to its contact with the
soul in a state of effort, and the movement of the flail is due
to its contact with the hand. But in the case of the uprising of
the flail in the threshing pot due to impact the movement is
not due to contact with the hands, and so the uplifting of the
hand in touch with the flail is not due to its contact with the
soul; for it is due to the impact of the flail. On account of
heaviness (_gurutva_) the flail will fall when not held by the hand.
Things may have an upward or side motion by specially directed
motions (_nodanavis'esa_) which are generated by special kinds of
efforts. Even without effort the body may move during sleep.
The movement of needles towards magnets is due to an unknown
cause (_adrstakâranaka_). The arrow first acquires motion by
specially directed movement, and then on account of its inertia (_vegasamskâra_) keeps on moving and when that ceases it falls
down through heaviness.
The second chapter abounds with extremely crude explanations
__________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: This portion has been taken from the _Upaskâra_ of S'ankara
Mis'ra on the _Vais'esika sûtras_ of Kanâda. It must be noted here
that the notion of number according to Vais'esika is due to mental
relativity or oscillation (_apeksabuddhijanya_). But this mental
relativity can only start when the thing having number is either seen or
touched; and it is in this sense that notion of number is said to depend
on the visual or the tactual sense.]
of certain physical phenomena which have no philosophical
importance. All the special phenomena of nature are explained
as being due to unknown cause (_adrstakâritam_) and no explanation
is given as to the nature of this unknown (_adrsta_).
It is however said that with the absence of _adrsta_ there is no contact
of body with soul, and thus there is no rebirth, and therefore moksa (salvation); pleasure and pain are due to contact of the
self, manas, senses and objects. Yoga is that in which the mind
is in contact with the self alone, by which the former becomes
steady and there is no pain in the body. Time, space, âkâs'a are
regarded as inactive.
The whole of the sixth book is devoted to showing that gifts
are made to proper persons not through sympathy but on account
of the injunction of the scriptures, the enumeration of certain
Vedic performances, which brings in adrsta, purification and impurities
of things, how passions are often generated by adrsta,
how dharma and adharma lead to birth and death and how moksa
takes place as a result of the work of the soul.
In the seventh book it is said that the qualities in eternal
things are eternal and in non-eternal things non-eternal. The
change of qualities produced by heat in earth has its beginning
in the cause (the atoms). Atomic size is invisible while great size
is visible. Visibility is due to a thing's being made up of many
causes [Footnote ref 1], but the atom is therefore different from those
that have great size. The same thing may be called great and small
relatively at the same time. In accordance with anutva (atomic) and
mahattva (great) there are also the notions of small and big. The
eternal size of _parimandala_ (round) belongs to the atoms. Âkâs'a
and âtman are called _mahân_ or _paramamahân_ (the supremely
great or all-pervasive); since manas is not of the great measure
it is of atomic size. Space and time are also considered as being
of the measure "supremely great" (paramamahat), Atomic size (parimandala) belonging to the atoms and the mind
(manas) and
the supremely great size belonging to space, time, soul and ether (âkâs'a) are regarded as eternal.
In the second chapter of the seventh book it is said that unity
and separateness are to be admitted as entities distinct from
other qualities. There is no number in movement and quality;
the appearance of number in them is false. Cause and effect are
_________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: I have differed from the _Upaskâra_ in the interpretation of
this sûtra.]
neither one, nor have they distinctive separateness (_ekaprthaktva_).
The notion of unity is the cause of the notion of duality, etc.
Contact may be due to the action of one or two things, or the
effect of another contact and so is disjoining. There is neither
contact nor disjoining in cause and effect since they do not exist
independently (_yutasiddhyabhâvât_). In the eighth book it is said
that soul and manas are not perceptible, and that in the apprehension
of qualities, action, generality, and particularity
perception is due to their contact with the thing. Earth is the
cause of perception of smell, and water, fire, and air are the
cause of taste, colour and touch[Footnote ref 1]. In the ninth book
negation is described; non-existence (_asat_) is defined as that to
which neither action nor quality can be attributed. Even existent things
may become non-existent and that which is existent in one
way may be non-existent in another; but there is another kind
of non-existence which is different from the above kinds of
existence and non-existence [Footnote ref 2]. All negation can be directly
perceived through the help of the memory which keeps before the
mind the thing to which the negation applies. Allusion is also
made in this connection to the special perceptual powers of the
yogins (sages attaining mystical powers through Yoga practices).
In the second chapter the nature of hetu (reason) or the
middle term is described. It is said that anything connected
with any other thing, as effect, cause, as in contact, or as contrary
or as inseparably connected, will serve as linga (reason).
The main point is the notion "this is associated with this," or
"these two are related as cause and effect," and since this may
also be produced through premisses, there may be a formal syllogism
from propositions fulfilling the above condition. Verbal
cognition comes without inference. False knowledge (_avidyâ_) is
due to the defect of the senses or non-observation and mal-observation
due to wrong expectant impressions. The opposite
of this is true knowledge (_vidyâ_). In the tenth it is said that
pleasure and pain are not cognitions, since they are not related to
doubt and certainty.
____________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: _Upaskâra_ here explains that it is intended that the senses
are produced by those specific elements, but this cannot be found in the
sûtras.]
[Footnote 2: In the previous three kinds of non-existence, _prâgabhâva_
(negation before production), _dhvamsâbhâva_ (negation after destruction),
and _anyonyabhava_ (mutual negation of each other in each other), have
been described. The fourth one is _sâmânyâbhâva_ (general negation).]
A dravya may be caused by the inhering of the effect in it, for
because of its contact with another thing the effect is produced.
Karma (motion) is also a cause since it inheres in the cause. Contact
is also a cause since it inheres in the cause. A contact which
inheres in the cause of the cause and thereby helps the production
of the effect is also a cause. The special quality of the heat of
fire is also a cause.
Works according to the injunctions of the scriptures since they
have no visible effect are the cause of prosperity, and because the
Vedas direct them, they have validity.
Philosophy in the Nyâya sûtras [Footnote ref 1].
The _Nyâya sûtras_ begin with an enumeration of the sixteen
subjects, viz. means of right knowledge (_pramâna_), object of right
knowledge (_prameya_), doubt (_sams'aya_), purpose (_prayojana_),
illustrative instances (_drstânta_), accepted conclusions (_siddhânta_),
premisses (_avayava_), argumentation (_tarka_), ascertainment (_nirnaya_),
debates (_vâda_), disputations (_jalpa_), destructive criticisms (_vitandâ_), fallacy
(_hetvâbhâsa_), quibble (_chala_), refutations (_jâti_), points of opponent's defeat
(_nigrahasthâna_), and hold that
by a thorough knowledge of these the highest good (_nihs'reyasa_), is
attained. In the second sûtra it is said that salvation (_apavarga_)
is attained by the successive disappearance of false knowledge (_mithyâjñâna_), defects
(_dosa_), endeavours (_pravrtti_, birth (_janma_), and ultimately of sorrow. Then the means of proof are said
to be of four kinds, perception (_pratyaksa_), inference (_anumâna_),
analogy (_upamana_), and testimony (_s'abda_). Perception is defined
as uncontradicted determinate knowledge unassociated with names
proceeding out of sense contact with objects. Inference is of three
kinds, from cause to effect (_pûrvavat_), effect to cause (_s'esavat_),
and inference from common characteristics (_sâmânyato drsta_).
Upamâna is the knowing of anything by similarity with any well-known
thing.
S'abda is defined as the testimony of reliable authority (âpta)
[Footnote ref 2].
___________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: This is a brief summary of the doctrines found in
_Nyâya sûtras_, supplemented here and there with the views of
Vâtsyâyana, the
commentator. This follows the order of the sûtras, and tries to present
their ideas with as little additions from those of later day Nyâya as
possible. The general treatment of Nyâya-Vais'esika expounds the two
systems in the light of later writers and commentators.]
[Footnote 2: It is curious to notice that Vâtsyâyana says that an
ârya, a rsi or a mleccha (foreigner), may be an âpta (reliable authority).]
Such a testimony may tell us about things which may be experienced
and which are beyond experience. Objects of knowledge
are said to be self (_âtman_), body, senses, sense-objects,
understanding (_buddhi_), mind (_manas_}, endeavour (pravrtti), rebirths,
enjoyment of pleasure and suffering of pain, sorrow and
salvation. Desire, antipathy, effort (_prayatna_), pleasure, pain, and
knowledge indicate the existence of the self. Body is that which
upholds movement, the senses and the rise of pleasure and pain
as arising out of the contact of sense with sense-objects [Footnote ref l];
the five senses are derived from the five elements, such as prthivi, ap, tejas, vâyu and
âkâs'a; smell, taste, colour, touch, and sound are
the qualities of the above five elements, and these are also the
objects of the senses. The fact that many cognitions cannot
occur at any one moment indicates the existence of mind (_manas_).
Endeavour means what is done by speech, understanding, and
body. Dosas (attachment, antipathy, etc) are those which lead
men to virtue and vice. Pain is that which causes suffering [Footnote ref
2]. Ultimate cessation from pain is called _apavarga_ [Footnote ref 3].
Doubt arises when through confusion of similar qualities or conflicting
opinions etc., one wants to settle one of the two alternatives. That
for attaining which, or for giving up which one sets himself to work
is called _prayojana_.
Illustrative example (_drstânta_) is that on which both the
common man and the expert (_parîksaka_) hold the same opinion.
Established texts or conclusions (_siddhânta_) are of four kinds,
viz (1) those which are accepted by all schools of thought called
the _sarvatantrasiddhânta_; (2) those which are held by one school
or similar schools but opposed by others called the _pratitantrasiddhânta_;
(3) those which being accepted other conclusions will also naturally
follow called _adhikaranasiddhânta_; (4) those of the opponent's views
which are uncritically granted by a debater, who proceeds then to refute
the consequences that follow and thereby show his own special skill and
bring the opponent's intellect to disrepute (_abhyupagamasiddhânta_)
[Footnote ref 4]. The premisses are five:
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[Footnote 1: Here I have followed Vâtsyâyana's meaning.]
[Footnote 2: Vâtsyâyana comments here that when one finds all things full
of misery, he wishes to avoid misery, and finding birth to be associated
with pain becomes unattached and thus is emancipated.]
[Footnote 3: Vâtsyâyana wants to emphasise that there is no bliss in
salvation, but only cessation from pain.]
[Footnote 4: I have followed Vâtsyâyana's interpretation here.]
(1) _pratijñâ_ (the first enunciation of the thing to be proved);
(2) _hetu_ (the reason which establishes the conclusion on the
strength of the similarity of the case in hand with known examples
or negative instances); (3) _udâharana_ (positive or negative
illustrative instances); (4) _upanaya_ (corroboration by the instance);
(5) _nigamana_ (to reach the conclusion which has been proved).
Then come the definitions of tarka, nirnaya, vâda, jalpa, vitandâ,
the fallacies (hetvâbhâsa), chala, jâti, and nigrahasthâna, which
have been enumerated in the first sûtra.
The second book deals with the refutations of objections
against the means of right knowledge (pramâna). In refutation
of certain objections against the possibility of the happening
of doubt, which held that doubt could not happen, since there
was always a difference between the two things regarding which
doubt arose, it is held that doubt arises when the special differentiating
characteristics between the two things are not noted.
Certain objectors, probably the Buddhists, are supposed to object
to the validity of the pramâna in general and particularly of
perceptions on the ground that if they were generated before
the sense-object contact, they could not be due to the latter,
and if they are produced after the sense-object contact, they
could not establish the nature of the objects, and if the two
happened together then there would be no notion of succession
in our cognitions. To this the Nyâya reply is that if there were
no means of right knowledge, then there would be no means of
knowledge by means of which the objector would refute all
means of right knowledge; if the objector presumes to have any
means of valid knowledge then he cannot say that there are no
means of valid knowledge at all. Just as from the diverse kinds
of sounds of different musical instruments, one can infer the previous
existence of those different kinds of musical instruments,
so from our knowledge of objects we can infer the previous existence
of those objects of knowledge [Footnote ref 1].
The same things (e.g. the senses, etc.) which are regarded as
instruments of right knowledge with reference to the right cognition
of other things may themselves be the objects of right
____________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: _Yathâpas'câtsiddhena s'abdena pûrvasiddham
âtodyamanumîyate
sâdhyam ca âtodyam sâdhanam ca s'abdah antarhite hyâtodye svanatah
anumânam bhavatîti, vînâ vâdyate venuh pûryyate iti svanavis'esena
âtodyavis'esam pratipadyate tathâ pûrvasiddham upalabdhivisayam
pas'câtsiddhena upalabdhihetunâ pratipadyate. Vâtsyâyana bhâsya,_ II. i. 15.]
knowledge. There are no hard and fast limits that those which
are instruments of knowledge should always be treated as mere
instruments, for they themselves may be objects of right knowledge.
The means of right knowledge (pramâna) do not require
other sets of means for revealing them, for they like the light of
a lamp in revealing the objects of right knowledge reveal themselves
as well.
Coming to the question of the correctness of the definition
of perception, it is held that the definition includes the contact
of the soul with the mind [Footnote ref 1]. Then it is said that though we
perceive only parts of things, yet since there is a whole, the perception
of the part will naturally refer to the whole. Since we
can pull and draw things wholes exist, and the whole is not
merely the parts collected together, for were it so one could
say that we perceived the ultimate parts or the atoms [Footnote ref 2].
Some objectors hold that since there may be a plurality of causes it is
wrong to infer particular causes from particular effects. To this
the Nyáya answer is that there is always such a difference in the
specific nature of each effect that if properly observed each particular
effect will lead us to a correct inference of its own particular
cause [Footnote ref 3]. In refuting those who object to the existence of
time on the ground of relativity, it is said that if the present time
did not exist, then no perception of it would have been possible.
The past and future also exist, for otherwise we should not have
perceived things as being done in the past or as going to be
done in the future. The validity of analogy (upamána) as a
means of knowledge and the validity of the Vedas is then proved.
The four pramânas of perception, inference, analogy, and scripture
_________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: Here the sûtras, II. i. 20-28, are probably later
interpolations to answer criticisms, not against the Nyâya doctrine
of perception, but against the wording of the definition
of perception as given in the,_Nyâya sûtra_, II. i. 4.]
[Footnote 2: This is a refutation of the doctrines of the Buddhists, who
rejected the existence of wholes (avayavî). On this subject a later
Buddhist monograph by Pandita As'oka (9th century A.D.), _Avayavinirâkarana_ in _Six Buddhist Nyâya Tracts_, may be referred
to.]
[Footnote 3: _Pûrvodakavis'istam khalu varsodakan s'îghrataram srotasâ
bahutaraphenaphalaparnakâsthâdivahanañcopalabhamânah pûrnatvena,
nadya upari vrsto deva ityanuminoti nodakabrddhimâtrena. Vatsyâyana bhâsya_, II.
i. 38. The inference that there has been rain up the river
is not made merely from seeing the rise of water, but from the rainwater
augmenting the previous water of the river and carrying with its current
large quantities of foam, fruits, leaves, wood, etc. These characteristics,
associated with the rise of water, mark it as a special kind of rise of
water, which can only be due to the happening of rain up the river].
are quite sufficient and it is needless to accept arthâpatti (implication),
aitihya (tradition), sambhava (when a thing is understood
in terms of higher measure the lower measure contained in it is
also understood--if we know that there is a bushel of corn anywhere
we understand that the same contains eight gallons of
corn as well) and abhâva (non-existence) as separate pramânas
for the tradition is included in verbal testimony and arthâpatti,
sambhava and abhâva are included within inference.
The validity of these as pramânas is recognized, but they are
said to be included in the four pramânas mentioned before. The
theory of the eternity of sound is then refuted and the non-eternity
proved in great detail. The meaning of words is said to
refer to class-notions (_jâti_), individuals (_vyakti_), and the specific
position of the limbs (_âkrti_), by which the class notion is manifested.
Class (_jâti_} is defined as that which produces the notion
of sameness (_samânaprasavâtmikâ jâtih_).
The third book begins with the proofs for the existence of
the self or âtman. It is said that each of the senses is associated
with its own specific object, but there must exist some other entity
in us which gathered together the different sense-cognitions and
produced the perception of the total object as distinguished from
the separate sense-perceptions. If there were no self then there
would be no sin in injuring the bodies of men: again if there
were no permanent self, no one would be able to recognize
things as having seen them before; the two images produced by
the eyes in visual perception could not also have been united
together as one visual perception of the things [Footnote ref 1]; moreover
if there were no permanent cognizer then by the sight of a sour
fruit one could not be reminded of its sour taste. If consciousness
belonged to the senses only, then there would be no recognition,
for the experience of one could not be recognized by another.
If it is said that the unity of sensations could as well be effected
by manas (mind), then the manas would serve the same purpose
as self and it would only be a quarrel over a name, for this
entity the knower would require some instrument by which it
would co-ordinate the sensations and cognize; unless manas is
admitted as a separate instrument of the soul, then though the
sense perceptions could be explained as being the work of the
__________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: According to Vâtsyâyana, in the two eyes we have two different
senses. Udyotakara, however, thinks that there is one visual sense which
works in both eyes.]
senses, yet imagining, thinking, etc., could not be explained.
Another argument for the admission of soul is this, that infants
show signs of pleasure and pain in quite early stages of infancy
and this could not be due to anything but similar experiences in
previous lives. Moreover every creature is born with some desires,
and no one is seen to be born without desires. All attachments
and desires are due to previous experiences, and therefore it is
argued that desires in infants are due to their experience in
previous existences.
The body is made up of the ksiti element. The visual sense
is material and so also are all other senses [Footnote ref l]. Incidentally
the view held by some that the skin is the only organ of sensation
is also refuted. The earth possesses four qualities, water three,
fire two, air one, and ether one, but the sense of smell, taste, eye,
and touch which are made respectively by the four elements of
earth, etc., can only grasp the distinctive features of the elements
of which they are made. Thus though the organ of smell is made
by earth which contains four qualities, it can only grasp the distinctive
quality of earth, viz. smell.
Against the Sâmkhya distinction of _buddhi_ (cognition) and
_cit_ (pure intelligence) it is said that there is no difference between
the _buddhi_ and _cit_. We do not find in our consciousness two
elements of a phenomenal and a non-phenomenal consciousness,
but only one, by whichever name it may be called. The Sâmkhya
epistemology that the antahkarana assumes diverse forms in
cognitive acts is also denied, and these are explained on the supposition
of contacts of manas with the senses, âtman and external
objects. The Buddhist objection against the Sâmkhya explanation
that the antahkaranas catch reflection from the external
world just as a crystal does from the coloured objects that may
lie near it, that there were really momentary productions of
crystals and no permanent crystal catching different reflections at
different times is refuted by Nyâya; for it says that it cannot be
said that all creations are momentary, but it can only be agreed to
in those cases where momentariness was actually experienced.
In the case of the transformation of milk into curd there is no
coming in of new qualities and disappearance of old ones, but
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[Footnote 1: It is well to remember that Sâmkhya did not believe that the
senses were constituted of the gross elements. But the Sâmkhya-Yoga view
represented in _Âtreya-samhitâ_ (Caraka) regarded the senses as bhautika
or constituted of the gross elements.]
the old milk is destroyed and the curd originates anew. The
contact of manas with soul (_âtman_) takes place within the body
and not in that part of âtman which is outside the body; knowledge
belongs to the self and not to the senses or the object for
even when they are destroyed knowledge remains. New cognitions
destroy the old ones. No two recollections can be simultaneous.
Desire and antipathy also belong to the soul. None of
these can belong either to the body or to the mind (manas).
Manas cannot be conscious for it is dependent upon self. Again
if it was conscious then the actions done by it would have to be
borne by the self and one cannot reap the fruits of the actions of
another. The causes of recollection on the part of self are given
as follows: (1) attention, (2) context, (3) repetition, (4) sign,
(5) association, (6) likeness, (7) association of the possessor
and the possessed or master and servant, or things which
are generally seen to follow each other, (8) separation (as of
husband and wife), (9) simpler employment, (10) opposition,
(11) excess, (12) that from which anything can be got, (13) cover
and covered, (14) pleasure and pain causing memory of that
which caused them, (15) fear, (16) entreaty, (17) action such
as that of the chariot reminding the charioteer, (18) affection,
(19) merit and demerit [Footnote ref 1]. It is said that knowledge does
not belong to body, and then the question of the production of the body
as due to adrsta is described. Salvation (_apavarga_) is effected by
the manas being permanently separated from the soul (âtman)
through the destruction of karma.
In the fourth book in course of the examination of dosa
(defects), it is said that moha (ignorance), is at the root of all
other defects such as râga (attachment) and dvesa (antipathy).
As against the Buddhist view that a thing could be produced by
destruction, it is said that destruction is only a stage in the
process of origination. Îs'vara is regarded as the cause of the
production of effects of deeds performed by men's efforts, for
man is not always found to attain success according to his efforts.
A reference is made to the doctrine of those who say that all
things have come into being by no-cause (_animitta_), for then
no-cause would be the cause, which is impossible.
The doctrine of some that all things are eternal is next refuted
on the ground that we always see things produced and destroyed.
__________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: _Nyâya sûtra_ III. ii. 44.]
The doctrine of the nihilistic Buddhists (s'ûnyavâdin Bauddhas)
that all things are what they are by virtue of their relations to
other things, and that of other Buddhists who hold that there are
merely the qualities and parts but no substances or wholes, are
then refuted. The fruits of karmas are regarded as being like
the fruits of trees which take some time before they can ripen.
Even though there may be pleasures here and there, birth means
sorrow for men, for even the man who enjoys pleasure is tormented
by many sorrows, and sometimes one mistakes pains for
pleasures. As there is no sorrow in the man who is in deep dreamless
sleep, so there is no affliction (_kles'a_) in the man who attains
apavarga (salvation) [Footnote ref 1]. When once this state is attained all
efforts (_pravrtti_) cease for ever, for though efforts were beginningless
with us they were all due to attachment, antipathy, etc. Then
there are short discussions regarding the way in which egoism (_ahamkâra_) ceases with the knowledge of the true causes of defects
(_dosa_); about the nature of whole and parts and about the
nature of atoms (_anus_) which cannot further be divided. A discussion
is then introduced against the doctrine of the Vijñânavâdins
that nothing can be regarded as having any reality when
separated from thoughts. Incidentally Yoga is mentioned as
leading to right knowledge.
The whole of the fifth book which seems to be a later addition
is devoted to the enumeration of different kinds of refutations
(_nigrahasthâna_) and futilities (_jâti_).
Caraka, Nyâya sûtras and Vais'esika sûtras.
When we compare the _Nyâya sûtras_ with the _Vais'esika sûtras_
we find that in the former two or three differentstreams of purposes
have met, whereas the latter is much more homogeneous. The large
amount of materials relating to debates treated as a practical art
for defeating an opponent would lead one to suppose that it was
probably originally compiled from some other existing treatises
which were used by Hindus and Buddhists alike for rendering
themselves fit to hold their own in debates with their
opponents [Footnote ref 2]. This assumption is justified when
____________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: Vâtsyâyana notes that this is the salvation of him who has
known Brahman, IV. i. 63.]
[Footnote 2: A reference to the _Suvarnaprabhâsa
sûtra_ shows that the
Buddhist missionaries used to get certain preparations for improving
their voice in order to be able to argue with force, and they took to
the worship of Sarasvatî (goddess of learning), who they supposed would
help them in bringing readily before their mind all the information
and ideas of which they stood so much in need at the time of debates.]
we compare the futilities (jâti) quibbles (chala), etc., relating to
disputations as found in the _Nyâya sûtra_ with those that are
found in the medical work of Caraka (78 A.D.), III. viii. There
are no other works in early Sanskrit literature, excepting the _Nyâya sûtra_ and
_Caraka-samhitâ_ which have treated of these
matters. Caraka's description of some of the categories (e.g. drstânta,
prayojana, pratijñâ and vitandâ) follows very closely
the definitions given of those in the _Nyâya sûtras_. There are
others such as the definitions of jalpa, chala, nigrahasthâna, etc.,
where the definitions of two authorities differ more. There are
some other logical categories mentioned in Caraka (e.g. _pratisthâpanâ,
jijñâsâ, vyavasâya, vâkyadosa, vâkyapras'amsâ, upalambha,
parihâra, abhyanujñâ_, etc.) which are not found in the _Nyâya
sûtra_ [Footnote ref 1]. Again, the various types of futilities (jâti) and points of opponent's refutation
(nigrahasthâna) mentioned in
the _Nyâya sûtra_ are not found in _Caraka_. There are some terms which
are found in slightly variant forms in the two works, e.g. _aupamya_ in _Caraka,
upamâna_ in _Nyâya sûtra, arthâpatti_ in _Nyâya sûtra_ and _arthaprâpti_ in
_Caraka_. Caraka does not seem to know anything
about the Nyâya work on this subject, and it is plain that the
treatment of these terms of disputations in the _Caraka_ is much
simpler and less technical than what we find in the _Nyâya sûtras_.
If we leave out the varieties of jâti and nigrahasthâna of the
fifth book, there is on the whole a great agreement between the
treatment of Caraka and that of the _Nyâya sûtras_. It seems therefore
in a high degree probable that both Caraka and the _Nyâya sûtras_ were indebted for their treatment of these terms of disputation
to some other earlier work. Of these, Caraka's compilation
was earlier, whereas the compilation of the _Nyâya sûtras_ represents
a later work when a hotter atmosphere of disputations had
necessitated the use of more technical terms which are embodied
in this work, but which were not contained in the earlier work.
It does not seem therefore that this part of the work could have
been earlier than the second century A.D. Another stream flowing
through the _Nyâya sûtras_ is that of a polemic against the doctrines
which could be attributed to the Sautrântika Buddhists, the
Vijñânavâda Buddhists, the nihilists, the Sâmkhya, the Cârvâka,
and some other unknown schools of thought to which we find no
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[Footnote 1: Like Vais'esika, Caraka does not know the threefold division
of inference (_anumâna_) as _pûrvavat, s'esavat and sâmânyatodrsta_.]
further allusion elsewhere. The _Vais'esika sûtras_ as we have already
seen had argued only against the Mîmâmsâ, and ultimately agreed
with them on most points. The dispute with Mîmâmsâ in the _Nyâya sûtras_ is the same as in the
Vais'esika over the question
of the doctrine of the eternality of sound. The question of the
self-validity of knowledge (_svatah prâmânyavâda_)and the akhyâti
doctrine of illusion of the Mîmâmsists, which form the two chief
points of discussion between later Mîmâmsâ and later Nyâya,
are never alluded to in the _Nyâya sûtras_. The advocacy of Yoga
methods (_Nyâya sûtras_, IV.ii.38-42 and 46) seems also to be
an alien element; these are not found in Vais'esika and are not in
keeping with the general tendency of the _Nyâya sûtras_, and the
Japanese tradition that Mirok added them later on as Mahâmahopâdhyâya
Haraprasâda S'astri has pointed out [Footnote ref l] is not improbable.
The _Vais'esika sûtras_, III.i.18 and III.ii.1, describe perceptional
knowledge as produced by the close proximity of the
self (âtman), the senses and the objects of sense, and they
also adhere to the doctrine, that colour can only be perceived
under special conditions of samskâra (conglomeration etc.).
The reason for inferring the existence of manas from the non-simultaneity (_ayaugapadya_) of knowledge and efforts is almost
the same with Vais'esika as with Nyâya. The _Nyâya sûtras_
give a more technical definition of perception, but do not bring
in the questions of samskâra or udbhûtarûpavattva which Vais'esika
does. On the question of inference Nyâya gives three
classifications as pûrvavat, s'esavat and samânyatodrsta, but no
definition. The _Vais'esika sûtras_ do not know of these classifications,
and give only particular types or instances of inference (V.S. III. i. 7-17, IX. ii. 1-2, 4-5). Inference is said to be made
when a thing is in contact with another, or when it is in a relation
of inherence in it, or when it inheres in a third thing; one kind
of effect may lead to the inference of another kind of effect, and
so on. These are but mere collections of specific instances of inference
without reaching a general theory. The doctrine of vyâpti
(concomitance of _hetu_ (reason) and _sâdhya_ (probandum)) which became
so important in later Nyâya has never been properly formulated
either in the _Nyâya sûtras_ or in the Vais'esika. _Vais'esika
sutra_, III. i. 24, no doubt assumes the knowledge of concomitance
between hetu and sadhya (_prasiddhipûrvakatvât apades'asya_),
___________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: _J.A.S.B._ 1905.]
but the technical vyâpti is not known, and the connotation of
the term _prasiddhipûrvakatva_ of Vais'esika seems to be more
loose than the term _vyâpti_ as we know it in the later Nyâya. The _Vais'esika
sûtras_ do not count scriptures (_s'abda_) as a separate pramâna, but they tacitly admit the great validity of the Vedas.
With _Nyâya sûtras_ s'abda as a pramâna applies not only to the
Vedas, but to the testimony of any trustworthy person, and
Vâtsyâyana says that trustworthy persons may be of three
kinds _rsi, ârya_ and _mleccha_ (foreigners). Upamâna which is
regarded as a means of right cognition in Nyâya is not even
referred to in the _Vais'esika sûtras_. The _Nyâya sûtras_ know of
other pramânas, such as _arthâpatti, sambhava_ and _aitihya_, but
include them within the pramânas admitted by them, but the _Vais'esika sûtras_ do not seem to know them at all [Footnote ref 1]. The
_Vais'esika sûtras_ believe in the perception of negation (abhâva) through
the perception of the locus to which such negation refers (IX. i.
1-10). The _Nyâya sûtras_ (II. ii. 1, 2, 7-12) consider that abhâva as
non-existence or negation can be perceived; when one asks another
to "bring the clothes which are not marked," he finds that marks
are absent in some clothes and brings them; so it is argued that
absence or non-existence can be directly perceived [Footnote ref 2]. Though
there is thus an agreement between the Nyâya and the _Vais'esika sûtras_ about the acceptance of abhâva as being due to perception,
yet their method of handling the matter is different. The _Nyâya sûtras_ say nothing about the categories of
_dravya, guna, karma, vis'esa_ and _samavâya_ which form the main subjects of
Vais'eska
discussions [Footnote ref 3]. The _Nyâya sûtras_ take much pains to prove
the materiality of the senses. But this question does not seem to have
been important with Vais'esika. The slight reference to this
question in VIII. ii. 5-6 can hardly be regarded as sufficient.
The _Vais'esika sûtras_ do not mention the name of "Îs'vara,"
whereas
the _Nyâya sûtras_ try to prove his existence on eschatological
grounds. The reasons given in support of the existence of self
in the _Nyâya sûtras_ are mainly on the ground of the unity of
sense-cognitions and the phenomenon of recognition, whereas the
____________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: The only old authority which knows these
pramânas is Caraka.
But he also gives an interpretation of sambhava which is different from
Nyâya and calls _arthâpatti arthaprâpti_ (_Caraka_ III. viii.).]
[Footnote 2: The details of this example are taken from Vâtsyâyana's
commentary.]
[Footnote 3: The _Nyâya sûtra_ no doubt incidentally gives a definition of
jâti as "_samânaprasavâtmikâ jâtih_" (II. ii. 71).]
Vaisesika lays its main emphasis on self-consciousness as a fact
of knowledge. Both the Nyâya and the _Vais'esika sûtras_ admit
the existence of atoms, but all the details of the doctrine of
atomic structure in later Nyâya-Vais'esika are absent there. The Vai'sesika calls salvation
_nihs'reyasa_ or _moksa_ and the Nyâya _apavarga_. Moksa with
Vais'esika is the permanent cessation of
connection with body; the apavarga with Nyâya is cessation of
pain [Footnote ref l]. In later times the main points of difference between
the Vais'esika and Nyâya are said to lie with regard to theory of the
notion of number, changes of colour in the molecules by heat, etc.
Thus the former admitted a special procedure of the mind by which
cognitions of number arose in the mind (e.g. at the first moment
there is the sense contact with an object, then the notion of oneness,
then from a sense of relativeness--apeksâbuddhi--notion
of two, then a notion of two-ness, and then the notion of two
things); again, the doctrine of pilupâka (changes of qualities by
heat are produced in atoms and not in molecules as Nyâya held)
was held by Vais'esika, which the Naiyâyikas did not admit [Footnote ref
2]. But as the _Nyâya sûtras_ are silent on these points, it is not
possible to say that such were really the differences between early
Nyâya and early Vaisesika. These differences may be said to hold between
the later interpreters of Vais'esika and the later interpreters of Nyâya. The
Vais'esika as we find it in the commentary of
Pras'astapâda (probably sixth century A.D.), and the Nyâya from
the time of Udyotakara have come to be treated as almost
the same system with slight variations only. I have therefore
preferred to treat them together. The main presentation of the Nyâya-Vais'esika philosophy in this chapter is that which is found
from the sixth century onwards.
The Vais'esika and Nyâya Literature.
It is difficult to ascertain definitely the date of the _Vais'esika
sûtras_ by Kanâda, also called Aulûkya the son of Ulûka, though
there is every reason to suppose it to be pre-Buddhistic. It
____________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: Professor Vanamâlî Vedântatîrtha quotes a passage from
_Samksepas'ankarajaya_, XVI. 68-69 in _J.A.S.B._, 1905, and another
passage from a Nyâya writer Bhâsarvajña, pp. 39-41, in _J.A.S.B._, 1914,
to show that the old Naiyâyikas considered that there was an element
of happiness (_sukha_) in the state of mukti (salvation) which the Vais'esikas denied. No evidence in support of this opinion is found
in the Nyâya or the _Vais'esika sûtras_, unless the cessation of pain
with Nyâya is interpreted as meaning the resence of some sort of bliss
or happiness.]
[Footnote 2: See Mâdhava's _Sarvadars'anasamgraha-Aulûkyadars'ana_.]
appears from the _Vâyu purâna_ that he was born in Prabhâsa near
Dvârakâ, and was the disciple of Somas'armâ. The time of
Pras'astapâda who wrote a bhâsya (commentary) of the _Vais'esika sûtras_ cannot also unfortunately be ascertained. The peculiarity
of Pras'astapâda's bhâsya is this that unlike other bhâsyas
(which first give brief explanations of the text of the sûtras and
then continue to elaborate independent explanations by explaining
the first brief comments), it does not follow the sûtras but
is an independent dissertation based on their main contents [Footnote
ref 1]. There were two other bhâsyas on the _Vais'esika sûtras_,
namely _Râvana-bhâsya_ and _Bharâdvâja-vrtti_, but these are now
probably lost. References to the former are found in _Kiranâvalîbhâskara_ of Padmanâbha Mis'ra and also in
_Ratnaprabhâ_
2. 2. II. Four commentaries were written on this bhâsya, namely _Vyomavatî_ by
Vyomas'ekharâcârya, _Nyâyakandalî_ by S'ridhara, _Kiranâvalî_ by Udayana (984 A.D.) and
_Lîlâvatî_ S'rîvatsâcârya.
In addition to these Jagadîs'a Bhattâcârya of Navadvîpa and S'ankara
Mis'ra wrote two other commentaries on the _Pras'astapâda-bhâsya_,
namely _Bhâsyasûkti_ and _Kanâda-rahasya_. S'ankara Mis'ra (1425
A.D.) also wrote a commentary on the _Vais'esika sûtras_ called the _Upaskâra_. Of these
_Nyâya-kandalî_ of S'rîdhara on account of its
simplicity of style and elaborate nature of exposition is probably
the best for a modern student of Vais'esika. Its author was a
native of the village of Bhûrisrsti in Bengal (Râdha). His father's
name was Baladeva and mother's name was Acchokâ and he
wrote his work in 913 S'aka era (990 A.D.) as he himself writes
at the end of his work.
The _Nyâya sûtra_ was written by Aksapâda or Gautama, and
the earliest commentary on it written by Vâtsyâyana is known
as the _Vâtsyâyana-bhâsya_. The date of Vâtsyâyana has not
____________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: The bhâsya of Pras'astapâda can hardly he called a
bhâsya (elaborate commentary). He himself makes no such claim and
calls his work a compendium of the properties of the categories (_Padârthadharmasamgraha_). He takes the categories of
_dravya, guna, karma, sâmânya, vis'esa_ and _samavâya_ in order and without
raising any discussions plainly narrates what he has got to say on
them. Some of the doctrines which are important in later Nyâya-Vais'esika discussions, such as the doctrine of creation and
dissolution, doctrine of number, the theory that the number of atoms
contributes to the atomic measure of the molecules, the doctrine of
pilupâka in connection with the transformation of colours by heat
occur in his narration for the first time as the _Vais'esika sûtras_
are silent on these points. It is difficult to ascertain his date
definitely; he is the earliest writer on Vais'esika available to us
after Kanâda and it is not improbable that he lived in the 5th or 6th
century A.D.]
been definitely settled, but there is reason to believe that he
lived some time in the beginning of the fourth century A.D. Jacobi
places him in 300 A.D. Udyotakara (about 635 A.D.) wrote a _Vârttika_ on Vâtsyâyana's
bhâsya to establish the Nyâya views
and to refute the criticisms of the Buddhist logician Dinnâga
(about 500 A.D.) in his _Pramânasamuccaya_. Vâcaspatimis'ra
(840 A.D.) wrote a sub-commentary on the _Nyâyavârttika_ of
Udyotakara called _Nyâyavârttikatâtparyatîkâ_ in order to make
clear the right meanings of Udyotakara's _Vârttika_ which was sinking
in the mud as it were through numerous other bad writings (_dustarakunibandhapankamagnânâm_). Udayana (984 A.D.) wrote
a sub-commentary on the _Tâtparyatîkâ_ called _Tâtparyatîkâparis'uddhi_. Varddhamâna (1225 A.D.) wrote a
sub-commentary on that called the _Nyâyanibandhaprakâs'a_. Padmanâbha
wrote a sub-commentary on that called _Varddhamânendu_ and S'ankara
Mis'ra (1425 A.D.) wrote a sub-commentary on that called the _Nyâyatâtparyamandana_. In the seventeenth century Vis'vanâtha
wrote an independent short commentary known as _Vis'vanâthavrtti_,
on the _Nyâya sûtra_, and Râdhâmohana wrote a separate
commentary on the _Nyâya sûtras_ known as _Nyâyasûtravivarana_.
In addition to these works on the _Nyâya sûtras_ many other
independent works of great philosophical value have been written
on the Nyâya system. The most important of these in medieval
times is the _Nyâyamañjari_ of Jayanta (880 A.D.), who flourished
shortly after Vâcaspatimis'ra. Jayanta chooses some of the _Nyâya sûtras_ for interpretation, but he discusses the Nyâya views quite
independently, and criticizes the views of other systems of Indian
thought of his time. It is far more comprehensive than Vâcaspati's _Tâtparyatîkâ_, and its style is most delightfully lucid. Another
important work is Udayana's _Kusumâñjali_ in which he tries to
prove the existence of Îs'vara (God). This work ought to be read
with its commentary _Prakâs'a_ by Varddhamâna (1225 A.D.) and its
sub-commentary _Makaranda_ by Rucidatta (1275 A.D.). Udayana's _Âtmatattvaviveka_ is a polemical work against the Buddhists, in
which he tries to establish the Nyâya doctrine of soul. In addition
to these we have a number of useful works on Nyâya in later
times. Of these the following deserve special mention in connection
with the present work. _Bhâsâpariccheda_ by Vis'vanâtha with
its commentaries _Muktâvalî, Dinakarî_ and _Râmarudrî, Tarkasamgraha_
with _Nyâyanirnaya, Tarkabkâsâ_ of Kes'ava Mis'ra with the commentary _Nyâyapradîpa,
Saptapadârthî_ of S'ivâditya, _Târkikaraksâ_ of Varadarâja with the commentary
_Niskantaka_
of Mallinâtha, _Nyâyasâra_ of Mâdhava Deva of the city of Dhâra and _Nyâyasiddhântamañjarî_ of Jânakinâtha
Bhattâcarya with the _Nyâyamanjarisara_ by Yâdavâcârya, and _Nyâyasiddhântadîpa_ of
S'asadhara with _Prabhâ_ by S'esânantâcârya.
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The new school of Nyâya philosophy known as Navya-Nyâya
began with Ganges'a Upâdhyâya of Mithilâ, about
1200 A.D. Ganges'a wrote only on the four pramânas admitted by the Nyâya, viz.
pratyaksa, anumâna, upamâna, and s'abda, and not on any of
the topics of Nyâya metaphysics. But it so happened that his
discussions on anumâna (inference) attracted unusually great attention
in Navadvîpa (Bengal), and large numbers of commentaries and
commentaries of commentaries were written on the anumâna
portion of his work _Tattvacintâmani, and many independent
treatises on sabda and anumâna were also written by the scholars
of Bengal, which became thenceforth for some centuries the home
of Nyâya studies. The commentaries of Raghunâtha S'iromani
(1500 A.D.), Mathurâ Bhattâcârya (1580 A.D.), Gadâdhara Bhattâcârya
(1650 A.D.) and Jagadîsa Bhattâcârya (1590 A.D.), commentaries
on S'iromani's commentary on _Tattvacintâmani, had been
very widely read in Bengal. The new school of Nyâya became the
most important study in Navadvîpa and there appeared a series
of thinkers who produced an extensive literature on the subject
[Footnote ref l].The contribution was not in the direction of
metaphysics, theology, ethics, or religion, but consisted mainly
in developing a system of linguistic notations to specify accurately
and precisely any concept or its relation with other concepts [Footnote
ref 2]. Thus for example when they wished to define precisely the
nature of the concomitance of one concept with another (e.g. smoke
and fire), they would so specify the relation that the exact nature
of the concomitance should be clearly expressed, and that there
should be no confusion or ambiguity. Close subtle analytic
thinking and the development of a system of highly technical
___________________________________________________________________
[Footnote 1: From the latter half of the twelfth century to the third
quarter of the sixteenth century the new school of Nyâya was started
in Mithilâ (Behar); but from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century
Bengal became pre-eminently the home of Nyâya studies. See Mr
Cakravarttî's paper, _J. A.S.B._ 1915. I am indebted to it for some
of the dates mentioned in this section.]
[Footnote 2: _Îs'varânumâna_ of Raghunatha as well as his
_Padârthatattvanirûpana_ are, however, notable exceptions.]
expressions mark the development of this literature. The technical
expressions invented by this school were thus generally accepted
even by other systems of thought, wherever the need of accurate
and subtle thinking was felt. But from the time that Sanskrit
ceased to be the vehicle of philosophical thinking in India the
importance of this literature has gradually lost ground, and it
can hardly be hoped that it will ever regain its old position by
attracting enthusiastic students in large numbers.
I cannot close this chapter without mentioning the fact that
so far as the logical portion of the Nyâya system is concerned,
though Aksapâda was the first to write a comprehensive account
of it, the Jains and Buddhists in medieval times had independently
worked at this subject and had criticized the Nyâya account
of logic and made valuable contributions | |
