Ashtasahastri

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Ashtasahastri" by Darbarilal Kothiya:

The text introduces "Ashtasahastri" as a commentary by Acharya Vidyānanda on the ancient Jain work "Devāgama" (also known as "Āptamīmāṁsā") by Acharya Samantabhadra Swami, who lived in the 2nd-3rd century Vikram Samvat. The author highlights "Ashtasahastri" as an exceptional and unparalleled commentary, not just within Jain philosophy but in the broader spectrum of Indian philosophical literature. It is praised for its profound subject matter, refined language, and serious, yet cheerful and profound, thought-stream that leaves a lasting impression on scholars.

The Original Text: Devāgama (Āptamīmāṁsā)

• Author: Acharya Samantabhadra Swami.
• Names:
  • Devāgama: Named so because it begins with the word "Devāgama." Mentioned by ancient scholars like Akalanka, Vidyānanda, Vādirāja, and Hastimalla.
  • Āptamīmāṁsā: This name was given by Samantabhadra himself at the end of the text, signifying an examination of the criteria for an "Āpta" (worthy of praise/authority).
• Content: The "Devāgama" critically examines who can be considered an Āpta and the essential qualities (extraordinary characteristics) required for Āptahood. It argues that perfect flawlessness, omniscience, and speech that is not contradictory to logic and scripture are the absolutely desirable and essential qualities for an Āpta. Other attributes are merely ornamental. Ultimately, Samantabhadra establishes that Lord Vīra (Jina) embodies these qualities and praises him. He also reviews monistic doctrines of others and establishes the superiority of the Syādvāda (the doctrine of conditional predication) as the correct mode of discourse.
• Historical Context: The text explains that "Devāgama" was written in an era where proponents of every school of thought criticized other deities and their doctrines while establishing their own chosen deity and teachings. A parallel is drawn with Acharya Dignāga, considered the father of Buddhist philosophy, who praised Lord Buddha and established his teachings (momentariness) in his "Pramāṇa-samuccaya." This context explains why Samantabhadra created "Devāgama" and why later scholars like Akalanka (with "Aṣṭaśatī") and Vidyānanda (with "Aṣṭasāhasrī") composed commentaries on it. "Devāgama" is described as a hymn of praise, explicitly called "Bhagavat-stavo" by Akalanka.

Commentaries on Devāgama:

The text details the significant commentaries on "Devāgama," emphasizing the importance and depth of the original work:

1. Devāgama Vivṛti (Aṣṭaśatī):

   • Author: Acharya Akalankadeva.
   • Characteristics: The oldest and most difficult commentary available. It is also known as "Āpta Mīmāṁsā Bhāṣya" and "Aṣṭaśatī" (likely due to its approximately eight hundred verses). Its complexity makes it accessible only to advanced scholars, and understanding it often requires consulting "Ashtasahastri." It is considered comparable to Udayana's "Nyāyakusumāñjali" in its profoundness and the effort required to comprehend it.

2. Devāgama Alaṅkāra (Ashtasahastri):

   • Author: Acharya Vidyānanda.
   • Focus of the Article: This is the primary subject of the presented text.
   • Names: Also referred to as "Devāgama Alaṅkāra" (ornament of Devāgama), "Devāgama Kṛti," "Āpta-Mīmāṁsā Alaṅkāra," and "Āpta-Mīmāṁsā Kṛti." The name "Ashtasahastri" (meaning "eight thousand") is also considered appropriate due to its length. Vidyānanda himself used the name "Ashtasahastri" in various verses within the commentary.
   • Significance: It is praised for its profound and cheerful style, refined and balanced language, and the way it clarifies the meaning of each word and sentence from "Devāgama." It not only explains the original verses but also intricately integrates Akalanka's "Aṣṭaśatī" into its own text, making the deeper meaning of both accessible. Vidyānanda's profound intellect is evident in his ability to seamlessly weave these commentaries together. Without "Ashtasahastri," the "Aṣṭaśatī" might have remained obscure.
   • New Contributions: "Ashtasahastri" includes extensive discussions on philosophical principles and debates that were developed up to Vidyānanda's time. Notably, it is the first Jain text to present and extensively analyze the debates on "niyoga" (duty/command) and "bhāvanā" (contemplation) in relation to the meaning of scriptural statements, a topic discussed by Mimāṁsā and Vedanta scholars like Prabhākara, Kumārila, and Maṇḍana Miśra. It also first introduces the concepts of contradictions and other logical fallacies (like "vaiyadhikaraṇya") within the framework of Anekāntavāda and provides their resolutions.
   • Manner of Discussion: The commentary is characterized by its dignity, seriousness, and balanced approach. Unlike some philosophical texts that use abusive language towards opponents, "Ashtasahastri" maintains politeness and restraint, even when refuting opposing views. It calls its opponents "pramādī" (careless) and "prajñāparādhī" (offender of intellect), demonstrating a thoughtful and benevolent approach.

3. Devāgama Vṛtti:

   • Author: Acharya Vasunandi.
   • Characteristics: A brief commentary. It is neither as difficult as "Aṣṭaśatī" nor as extensive and profound as "Ashtasahastri." It provides concise explanations of the verses and their implied meanings, useful for beginners. The author notes he wrote it for his own benefit due to his dull intellect and forgetfulness.
   • Anomalies: The text discusses a point of debate: Vasunandi presented a commentary on 115 verses of "Devāgama," whereas other commentaries were based on 114 verses. The author speculates that Vasunandi might have encountered a version of "Devāgama" where a concluding benediction from an unknown earlier commentary was appended and numbered as the 115th verse. He likely memorized this version and then wrote his commentary based on it, possibly without fully consulting "Aṣṭaśatī" and "Ashtasahastri." This 115-verse version is believed to have become prevalent.
   • Publication: The "Devāgama Vṛtti" has been published twice but is now scarce and awaits re-publication.

Significance and Grandeur of Ashtasahastri:

• Vidyānanda declares that studying "Ashtasahastri" alone is sufficient for understanding one's own philosophy and that of others, making the study of thousands of other texts unnecessary. This is deemed neither an exaggeration nor boastful, as the text itself proves its merit.
• The verses by Vidyānanda celebrating "Ashtasahastri" further highlight its grandeur. One verse states that "Ashtasahastri" brings forth the correct meaning of "Devāgama" supported by Akalanka, using the principles of Sapta-bhaṅgī (seven-fold predication), and possesses a cheerful and profound style. Another verse asserts that "Ashtasahastri" should always be victorious as it clearly reveals the profound meanings of Akalanka's difficult verses, which contain the essence of Acharya Samantabhadra's teachings.
• The summaries at the end of each chapter further showcase the commentary's value. The text's dignified and profound manner of refuting monistic viewpoints and addressing the concerns of opponents is considered unique.

Other Commentaries:

• The text mentions two other known commentaries: a "Tippaṇa" (commentary) by Laghu Samantabhadra (13th century) titled "Ashtasahastri-viṣama-pada-tātparya ṭīkā" and a "Tātparya Vivaraṇa" by the Śvetāmbara scholar Yashovijaya (17th century).
• The first edition of Yashovijaya's commentary was published in 1915 but is now out of print. A new edition is anticipated.

The Author: Acharya Vidyānanda

• Acharya Vidyānanda is identified as the brilliant logician who composed this monumental work. He is described as a radiant sun in the sky of Indian philosophy, particularly Jain philosophy, with a deep and insightful understanding of all Indian philosophical systems, as evidenced by his surviving works. His period of existence is estimated to be between 775 and 840 CE.

In essence, the provided text is an introduction to Acharya Vidyānanda's "Ashtasahastri," a crucial commentary on Samantabhadra's "Devāgama." It emphasizes the philosophical depth of the original work, the importance of the commentaries by Akalanka and Vidyānanda, and the unique contributions and scholarly significance of "Ashtasahastri" within Indian philosophical literature.