Dvadashar Naychakra Ka Darshanik Adhyayana - Book Summary

The book "Dvadashar Naychakra ka Darshanik Adhyayana" by Jitendra B Shah is a comprehensive philosophical study of the Dvadashar Nayachakra, a significant work by the Jain philosopher Acharya Mallavadi. The book delves into the intricate philosophical concepts presented in Mallavadi's work, which is known for its unique approach to Jain philosophy and its engagement with various Indian philosophical traditions.

Here's a summary of the key aspects covered in the book, based on the provided text:

1. Introduction to Dvadashar Nayachakra:

The book highlights the Dvadashar Nayachakra as a profound philosophical text that discusses nearly all philosophical traditions of its time.
It emphasizes that the text contains philosophical principles of nearly lost schools of thought, making it a unique and invaluable contribution to philosophical literature.
The original text was lost centuries ago, but its commentary by Acharya Simhasuri (Singhsuris) is available. The reconstructed text, based on this commentary, is the foundation for this study.

2. The Author and the Book's Genesis:

The author, Dr. Jitendra B. Shah, explains that this work began as his Ph.D. thesis at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
He expresses gratitude to his guides, professors, and friends who supported his research.
The author's initial intention was to publish the thesis after further enrichment, but encouragement from friends led to its publication.

3. Core Philosophical Contribution - Nayachakra:

The book focuses on the unique presentation of the naya (viewpoints or epistemological standpoints) theory in Jain philosophy within the Dvadashar Nayachakra.
While traditional Jain philosophy recognizes two, five, six, or seven nayasa, Mallavadi's work divides them into twelve nayasa.
These twelve nayasa are structured around the concepts of vidhi (method/positive assertion) and niyama (rule/negative assertion), combined with ubhaya (both).
Mallavadi attempts to integrate all contemporary Indian philosophical doctrines within this twelve-naya framework, critiquing each doctrine through its opposing viewpoint.
The ultimate conclusion is that while all philosophies might be true from their own perspective, they become erroneous when taken as absolute or absolutist (ekantavadi). True understanding arises from the synthesis of all viewpoints, which is the essence of Samyak Darshan (right perception) and thus Jain philosophy (Anekantavada).

4. Scope of the Study (Doctoral Thesis): The book, stemming from a doctoral thesis, covers a broad range of topics analyzed through the lens of Dvadashar Nayachakra:

Chapter 1: History of Jain philosophical tradition up to Mallavadi, including his life and the book's subject matter.
Chapter 2: The problem of empiricism vs. rationalism (rationalism/intellectualism), and how Mallavadi presents empirical (agnostic) views first and then critiques them with reason.
Chapter 3: The problem of causality, discussing various theories of the cause of the universe (time, nature, destiny, being, chance, karma) presented and critiqued by Mallavadi.
Chapter 4: The concept of God, focusing on the Nyaya philosophy's view and its critique.
Chapter 5: The nature of Sat (Being), discussing eternalism, nihilism, and the dual nature of being.
Chapter 6: The relationship between substance (dravya), qualities (guna), and modes (paryaya).
Chapter 7: Actuarism (Kriyavada) vs. Non-actuarism (Akriyavada).
Chapter 8: The problem of general and particular.
Chapter 9: The concept of the soul (Atman) and its various interpretations.
Chapter 10: The relationship between word (shabda) and meaning (artha).
Chapter 11: The question of the denotative capacity (vachyata) of words and the unspeakable nature of reality.
Chapter 12: The classification of nayasa in the Nayachakra and its departure from traditional classifications.
Conclusion: The overall contribution of Nayachakra in resolving various philosophical problems.

5. Analysis of Mallavadi's Philosophy:

Mallavadi is presented as a significant Jain philosopher known for his logical prowess in refuting opponents through his nayavada.
The book discusses Mallavadi's life, family background, and his supposed victory in debates with Buddhist scholars.
It highlights Mallavadi's major works, including the Dvadashar Nayachakra and Padmacharita, noting that most of his original works are lost.
The author establishes Mallavadi's approximate time period, placing him around the 5th century CE, based on references to other philosophers and historical events.
The book explains the foundational agamic basis for Nayachakra, linking it to the lost 12th Anga, Drishtivada, and specifically its Nayaprabhrita section. It also mentions the existence of a Saptashatar-Nayachakra prior to Mallavadi's work.

6. The Unique Structure of Nayachakra:

The book elaborates on the "wheel" (chakra) analogy used by Mallavadi to structure his philosophy.
The twelve "spokes" (ara) represent different philosophical standpoints (nayasa), presented sequentially.
Each ara presents a philosophical view, and the subsequent ara critiques the previous one, leading to a cyclical and dialectical progression.
The structure represents Anekantavada (non-absolutism) by showing how each viewpoint, while valid in its own context, is incomplete when taken in isolation.
The twelve ara are categorized under vidhi (positive), niyama (negative), and ubhay (both), covering theories related to eternalism, temporalism, and non-temporalism.

7. Subject Matter and Critique of Philosophies:

The book details the content of each of the twelve ara, explaining how Mallavadi systematically presents and critiques various philosophical schools of thought, including:
- Agnosticism/Lokavada (Empiricism): Presented as prioritizing common experience over logic.
- Kriyavada (Activism) vs. Akriyavada (Non-Activism): Debating the role of action and knowledge in liberation.
- Causality: Analyzing theories of time, nature, destiny, being, chance, and karma.
- Theism: Presenting and critiquing the concept of God as a creator.
- Nature of Being (Sat): Discussing eternalism, nihilism, and relative permanence.
- Substance, Qualities, and Modes: Analyzing their relationships.
- General vs. Particular: Examining the debate between universalists and particularists.
- The Soul: Exploring different views on the soul's existence and nature.
- Word and Meaning: Analyzing their relationship.
- Denotative Capacity of Words: Discussing the limits of language in expressing reality.
- Naya Classification: Presenting the unique twelve-fold classification.
Mallavadi's method involves presenting a viewpoint, critiquing it, and then establishing an alternative, ultimately demonstrating the necessity of synthesizing all perspectives within the framework of Anekantavada.

8. Methodology:

The study emphasizes Mallavadi's analytical method of presenting opposing arguments and resolving them through a synthesis rooted in Jain principles.
It highlights the book's value in understanding the intellectual landscape of ancient India and the development of its philosophical thought.

In essence, Dr. Jitendra B. Shah's "Dvadashar Nayachakra ka Darshanik Adhyayana" serves as an in-depth exploration of Acharya Mallavadi's seminal work, providing a detailed philosophical analysis of its unique twelve-fold classification of nayasa and its comprehensive critique and synthesis of diverse Indian philosophical traditions, all aimed at establishing the validity of the Jain doctrine of Anekantavada.