Nyayasara

The provided text is a multi-page scanned document containing the Jain text "Nyayasara" along with its commentary "Nyayatatparyadipika" and introductory and cataloging information. Here's a comprehensive summary in English based on the content:

Book Title: Nyayasara Author(s): Bhasarvagna Acharya (original author), Jaysinhsuri (commentator), Satish Chandra Vidyabhushan (editor) Publisher: Asiatic Society Publication Year: 1910 (as indicated on page 10)

Overall Content:

The document is an edition of the "Nyayasara," a significant Brahmanic work on medieval logic, accompanied by a detailed commentary called "Nyayatatparyadipika" by the Jain scholar Jayasimha Suri. The entire work has been meticulously edited by Mahāmahopādhyāya Satish Chandra Vidyabhushana. The introductory pages and the index at the end provide context about the project of digitizing and preserving ancient Jain texts, highlighting the role of institutions like the Shri Ashapuran Parshvanath Jain Gyan Bhandar.

Key Aspects and Summary:

1. "Nyayasara" - A Brahmanic Work on Medieval Logic:

   • The "Nyayasara" itself is described as a rare Brahmanic work that engages with the principles of medieval Indian logic.
   • The editor, Satish Chandra Vidyabhushana, notes that while the ancient logic was primarily established by the Brahmanic sage Akṣapāda Gautama (Nyayasutra), medieval logic was significantly developed by Buddhists and Jainas.
   • The "Nyayasara" stands out among Brahmanic works for its adoption of the medieval logic style, focusing on the category of pramāṇa (means of right knowledge), a departure from Akṣapāda's sixteen categories.
   • Bhasarvajña, the author, divides pramāṇa into perception (pratyakṣa), inference (anumāna), and verbal testimony (āgama), which aligns with Jain and Sankhya traditions but differs from the Buddhist view of only two pramāṇas (perception and inference).
   • The work delves into detailed discussions on inference, including its types, fallacies, the structure of syllogisms, and the nature of dialectic (discussion, wrangling, sophistry).
   • It also touches upon the concept of salvation (mokṣa) and includes extracts from Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, indicating an engagement with broader Indian philosophical traditions.

2. "Nyayatatparyadipika" - A Jain Commentary:

   • The commentary by Jayasimha Suri, a Jain scholar from the Svetambara sect, provides an in-depth analysis and elucidation of the "Nyayasara."
   • Jayasimha Suri draws upon the views of various philosophers, including "Bhusanakara" (likely the author of "Nyayabhusana"), Vacaspati Misra, and Hemacandra Suri.
   • The commentary critically examines Bhasarvajña's arguments, particularly his classification of pramāṇas and his views on logical fallacies and debate.
   • It demonstrates the sophisticated logical systems developed within Jainism, engaging with and often refuting the philosophical positions of other schools.

3. The Editor's Contribution (Satish Chandra Vidyabhushana):

   • Vidyabhushana's role as editor was crucial in making this rare text accessible. He based the edition on multiple manuscripts and provided a scholarly introduction.
   • His introduction details the historical context of Indian logic, highlighting the contributions of Buddhists and Jainas to medieval logic, and places Bhasarvajña and Jayasimha Suri within this intellectual lineage.
   • He discusses the likely period of Bhasarvajña's life (around 900 AD) and his possible origin in Kashmir, based on historical references.
   • The index of words at the end is a testament to the thoroughness of the edition.

4. The "Aho Shrutgyanam" Project:

   • The initial pages (pages 1-9) are dedicated to the "Aho Shrutgyanam Granth Jirnoddhar" project, organized by the Shri Ashapuran Parshvanath Jain Gyan Bhandar in Ahmedabad.
   • This project aims to preserve and republish rare and ancient Jain texts that are becoming lost or inaccessible.
   • The catalog lists numerous other Jain texts that have been digitized and printed in sets, covering a wide range of subjects including scriptures, commentaries, works on architecture (shilpa shastra), astrology, and history.
   • The project is supported by donations and collaborations, as indicated by the "Dravya Sahayak" information on page 2.

Summary of the Logical Content (based on scanned pages):

The scanned pages provide a detailed exposition of key logical concepts:

• Pramāṇa (Means of Knowledge): Discusses pratyakṣa (perception) and its types (yogic and non-yogic), and anumāna (inference) with its complex analysis of hetu (reason), vyāpti (invariable concomitance), fallacies (hetvābhāsa), and the structure of argumentation.
• Hetvābhāsas (Fallacies of Inference): Elaborates on various fallacies like asiddha (unestablished), viruddha (contradictory), anaikāntika (undetermined), anadhyavasita (undecided), kālātyayāpadiṣṭa (time-excluded), and prakaraṇasama (context-sensitive).
• Āgama (Verbal Testimony): Examines the validity of verbal testimony, its division into dṛṣṭārtha (referring to observable things) and adṛṣṭārtha (referring to unobservable things), and the importance of āpta (trustworthy authority) in establishing its validity.
• Other Concepts: The text also covers upamāna (analogy), arthāpatti (implication), abhāva (non-existence), and the concept of mokṣa (liberation).

In essence, the "Nyayasara" with Jayasimha Suri's commentary and Satish Chandra Vidyabhushana's editorship is a profound exploration of Indian logic, showcasing the sophisticated intellectual traditions of both Brahmanism and Jainism, and the vital role of scholarly preservation efforts in keeping this heritage alive.