Nyayakumudchandra Aur Uske Sampadan Ki Visheshtaye

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text about "Nyayakumudchandra aur uske Sampadan ki Visheshtaye" (Nyayakumudchandra and the Special Features of its Editing), authored by Dr. Sudarshanlal Jain:

The article introduces and analyzes Nyayakumudchandra, a significant commentary on Bhattaakalanka Deva's Laghiyasthraya and its self-commentary (Swopajnavivrutti). Despite being a commentary, Nyayakumudchandra is considered an independent work due to its profound importance and original contributions. It thoroughly explores the entire spectrum of Indian philosophical logic and principles of knowledge, presenting novel insights.

Key aspects highlighted about Nyayakumudchandra:

• Author: The commentary itself is attributed to Acharya Prabhachandra.
• Purpose and Scope: It serves as an exhaustive explanation of Bhattaakalanka Deva's Laghiyasthraya and its commentary. Laghiyasthraya itself is a compilation of three smaller sections: Pramana-pravesha, Naya-pravesha, and Pravachana-pravesha, totaling seven chapters. While a commentary, it delves deeply into logical and epistemological (prameya) literature.
• Logical Prowess: Acharya Prabhachandra, a luminary in logic, impartially discusses the views of Vedic logicians like Vatsyayana and Udyotakara, and Buddhist logicians like Dignaga and Dharmakirti, using their own works as a basis. He equally presents the viewpoints of Jain scholars. The work addresses and provides detailed logical solutions to even the most subtle problems arising within Jain principles.
• Role of Logic: Logic (Tarkashastra) is described as the discipline that provides knowledge of the past, future, distant, subtle, and obscured. While primarily concerned with inference (anumana), it is also used to resolve doubts regarding sense perception (indriya pratyaksha) and scriptural authority (agama). Nyayakumudchandra employs this approach to critically examine the principles of various opposing philosophical schools (paravadi).
• Metaphorical Significance: Just as the sun (Mārtāṇḍa) makes the lotuses of knowledge (prameya) blossom, Nyayakumudchandra is likened to the moon (Chandra) that makes the lotuses of logic (nyāya) bloom.
• Source Material: The commentary draws phrases and sentences from the works of Dignaga, Dharmakirti, Varshaganya, and Siddhasena.
• Historical Context of Jain Logic: The article traces the development of Jain logic, crediting Swami Samantabhadra (2nd century CE) as the founder, Siddhasena Divakara (around 625 VS) for its emergence, and Acharya Bhattaakalanka (7th-8th century CE) for establishing its grand structure. Later scholars like Acharya Vidyananda (9th century CE) brought maturity to this logic, and Acharya Prabhachandra (980-1065 CE) made its complex concepts accessible. Prabhachandra's deep study of non-Jain logical texts like Prashastapad Bhashya, Vyomavati, Nyaya Bhashya, etc., influenced his style, enabling him to refine Jain principles with strong arguments. His work, including Nyayakumudchandra, filled the void left by profound works like Vyomavati.

The Editing and Publication of Nyayakumudchandra:

The article then shifts to discuss the meticulous editing and publication of Nyayakumudchandra by Pandit Mahendrakumar Shastri.

• Inspiration and Collaboration: Motivated by Pandit Nathuram Premi, the secretary of Manikchand Digambara Jain Granthamala, Pandit Mahendrakumar Shastri, a respected teacher of Jain logic, undertook the editing of Nyayakumudchandra. He was assisted by Pandit Sukhlal Sanghvi and Pandit Kailashchandra Shastri, with generous support from Ganeshprasad Varni for obtaining necessary literary materials.
• Editorial Process: The editing was based on five primary manuscripts, many of which were either inaccurate or incomplete, highlighting the difficulty of the task. All essential editorial considerations were carefully observed.
• Publication Details: The edited work was published in two parts by Manikchand Granthamala, Bombay, in 1938 and 1941 respectively. The printing carefully used appropriate punctuation and notation for the original text (mūlapāṭh), commentary (vivṛtti), explanations (vyākhyān), notes (ṭippaṇ), variant readings (pāṭhāntar), and punctuation marks.
• Appendices (Second Part): To enhance comprehension and aid researchers, the second volume includes twelve valuable appendices:
  1. Index of Laghiyasthraya Karikas
  2. List of quoted sentences in Laghiyasthraya and its commentary
  3. Glossary of special terms in Laghiyasthraya and its commentary
  4. Comparison of Laghiyasthraya karikas and commentary excerpts cited by other scholars
  5. Quotations from other texts cited in Nyayakumudchandra
  6. Logical statements mentioned in Nyayakumudchandra
  7. List of historical and geographical names in Nyayakumudchandra
  8. List of texts and authors mentioned in Nyayakumudchandra
  9. List of idiomatic expressions in Nyayakumudchandra
  10. Some specific terms within Nyayakumudchandra
  11. List of philosophical terms in Nyayakumudchandra
  12. List of references for the original text and notes (with page numbers)

Pandit Mahendrakumar Ji's Scholarship and Editorial Excellence:

• Unparalleled Expertise: Pandit Mahendrakumar Shastri is hailed as an editor without equal in his time for his critical editions of complex works like Nyayakumudchandra, Prameyakamalamārtāṇḍa, and the Akalanka Granthatraya. He was not only a profound scholar of Jainism but also possessed a deep understanding of non-Jain logic.
• Key Contributions: His notes and the extensive 63-page introduction to the second part demonstrate his scholarship. He illuminated historical aspects with a comparative approach, avoiding narrowness in his discussions. Some notes clarify the author's intent, while others focus on textual purity.
• Introductory Material: The introduction is highly valuable, discussing numerous historical and philosophical points regarding Acharya Akalanka and Prabhachandra. It reveals many secrets by comparing Jain and non-Jain authors. The article suggests this introduction could be considered an outline of the history of the Jain logic era, making it very useful for historians.
• Textual Corrections: Inaccurate readings were corrected and presented within parentheses (), while words added by the editor to fill gaps or omissions in the original text are indicated by square brackets [].
• Manuscript Basis: The Eeder Bhandar copy (designated as 'A') was used as the primary reference, with the other four manuscripts utilized as needed. The completeness of the commentary was further ensured by using the Jaipur copy.
• Legacy: This first editing task by Pandit Mahendrakumar Ji was so significant and exemplary that it led to him being entrusted with the editing of Prameyakamalamārtāṇḍa and other works, which he completed with the same dedication and integrity. The influence of Nyayakumudchandra was so profound that he named his firstborn son "Kumudchandra" in its memory, making the edited work a testament to his literary dedication.
• Tribute: The article concludes with a tribute to Pandit Mahendrakumar Ji's genius, comparing him to Prabhachandracharya, and a wish for others to follow the path he illuminated.