Dvadasharnaychakram Part 1

The provided text is the first part of the Dvadasharnaychakram (meaning "Wheel of Twelve Arguments") by Sri Mallavadi Kshamasraman, with the commentary Nyayagamanusarini by Sri Simhasuragani Vadi Kshamasraman. Edited by Acharya Vijaya Labdhi Surishwar, it was published in 1948 by Chandulal Jamnadas Shah.

The book, a significant work in Jain philosophy and logic, critically examines various philosophical viewpoints, particularly focusing on the concept of anekanta (non-absolutism or manifold aspects) which is central to Jainism. The first part covers the initial two aara (sections or chapters) of the twelve.

The Dvadasharnaychakram aims to refute alternative philosophical doctrines and establish the validity of Jain principles through rigorous logical argumentation. It engages with a wide range of topics, including:

• Critique of other philosophical schools: The text extensively analyzes and critiques the philosophies of schools like Sankhya, Bauddha (Buddhist), and Vaisheshika, highlighting their inconsistencies and limitations from a Jain perspective.
• Epistemology and Logic: It delves into the nature of knowledge and reality, discussing the validity of different sources of knowledge (pramana) and logical reasoning (naya). The text explores concepts like perception, inference, and the limitations of each.
• Metaphysics: The work discusses fundamental metaphysical concepts such as substance (dravya), attributes (guna), actions (karma), universals (samanya), particulars (vishesha), cause and effect, and the nature of reality itself, often contrasting them with non-Jain views.
• Debate on Causality and Origination: A significant portion of the text is dedicated to dissecting theories of creation and causation, such as the Sāṅkhya's Pradhana (primordial matter) as the ultimate cause, the concept of time (Kala), destiny (Niyati), and self-causation (Purusha). Mallavadi vigorously argues against these, advocating for the Jain perspective on causality and the nature of existence.
• Critique of theories of origination: The text critically examines various ideas about how things come into being, refuting concepts like creation ex nihilo, the role of external forces, or the absolute nature of cause and effect as proposed by other schools.
• The nature of reality: The book engages with the debate on whether reality is ultimately singular (ekanta) or manifold (anekanta), strongly supporting the Jain doctrine of anekanta as the means to understand the true nature of things.
• Language and Meaning: It also touches upon the philosophy of language, exploring how words relate to their meanings and the potential for misinterpretation or ambiguity in philosophical discourse.

The commentary by Simhasuragani Vadi Kshamasramana likely provides detailed explanations and elaborations on Mallavadi's complex arguments, making the text more accessible to scholars. The editor, Acharya Vijaya Labdhi Surishwar, is credited with purifying the original text from manuscripts and adding his own commentary (Vishamapadavivechana - explanation of difficult terms) to further illuminate the work.

The introduction highlights the profound nature of the Dvadasharnaychakram, its deep logical framework, and its role in establishing the anekanta principle. It also mentions the historical context, noting the difficulty in dating Mallavadi precisely but placing him within a period influenced by or interacting with other prominent philosophers like Bhartrihari and Dignaga.

Overall, the Dvadasharnaychakram Part 1 is a cornerstone text for understanding Jain logic, its engagement with other Indian philosophical traditions, and its sophisticated defense of the anekanta viewpoint through detailed analysis and refutation.