The Contribution of Anandabodha To Advaita

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

This book deals with the main doctrines of Advaita as set forth in the writings of Anandabodha. Anandabodha is a great name in the history of Advaita Vedanta. He is not only a metaphysician of great insight but also a dialectician of great skill and ability. He is credited with the authorship of four works on Advaita of which.

"Nyayamakaranda" is the most important. He was a source of inspiration to some of the greatest dialecticians of not only the Sankara school but of the other schools as well. He does not deal with Advaita in all its details but presents only such doctrines that are of fundamental character. The first and foremost task of the Advaitin is to refute difference and establish identity. This Anandabodha does with consummate skill.

Anandabodha next seeks to establish the Advaitin's theory of error, viz. anirvacaniyakhyati, by a dialectical criticism of the other main theories of error, viz. akhyati, anyathakhyati, atmakhyati and asatkhyati.

But what is most original and suggestive in Anandabodha is his interpretation of avidya and avidyanivrtti.

Dr. E. I. Warrier (b. 1922), an M. A., M. Litt., Ph.D. of the Madras University, was a student of the distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Padmabhushan Dr. T. M. P. Mahadevan who in the closing years of his life was a National Professor of India.

Dr. Warrier began his academic career as a Tutor in Philosophy and rose up steadily to the position of the Professor & Head of the Department of Philosophy in the University of Calicut. He was also Dean of the Faculty of Humanities in the same University. He had written books both in English and in Malayalam and published a number of learned papers. He was also associated with a number of Universities in India, particularly of the South, as a paper-setter and examiner. He had also the privilege of evaluating a number of doctoral theses of these Universities. He has successfully guided the research work of a number of students for their doctoral degree. He was also the Chairman of the Post-Graduate Board of Studies in Philosophy in the Universities of Kerala and Calicut and also Chairman of the Board of Examiners in M. A. Philosophy of these Universities.

This work is a study of the main contributions of Anandabodha to Advaita. Anandabodha is an eminent post- Sankara Advaitin whose works, the chief of which is Nyayamakaranda, are noted alike for the depth and penetration of their thinking and the subtlety of their logic. He had been a source of inspiration not only for the dialecticians of the Sankara school but also for many other thinkers. His works show the heights attained by philosophical speculation in ancient India. This work is primarily based on my Doctoral dissertation submitted to the University of Madras in 1959, but it contains a great deal more. New additions have been made. I have no doubt that this work in its present form will be a distinct addition to the literature on Advaita in English.

Dr. E. I. Warrier's latest contribution to the corpus of Indian philosophical writings is a work which deserves the warm appreciation of all scholars interested in the study of Vedanta. In this exposition of Anandabodha's 'Nyayamakaranda', the author has resurrected an important work from near oblivion and given it new life and recognition.

Let me congratulate my erudite friend for his untiring efforts at illuminating the 'Vedanta Corridor' in Indian philosophy by focussing his critical attention on an authentic Advaita Text.

Anandabodha is a great name in the history of Advaita Vedanta. This is evident from Dr. Das Gupta's reference to him as "the only author of great reputation" in the eleventh century' and from Hiriyanna's remarks that he is "a well-known exponent of the Advaita".? That he has contributed something original to Advaita is evident from the fact that one of the five definitions of mithyatva (illusoriness) is said to have been given by him. To quote Hiriyanna himself "Anandabodha's importance will be well indicated if we mention that one of the five definitions of mithyātva -- a conception of fundamental importance for Advaita- is ascribed to him". His dialectical skill is evident in every page of his works. Great dialecticians of the Sankara school like Citsukha, Anandajñāna, Vidyaranya, Śriharşa and Madhusudanasarasvati, have all been inspired by him and his arguments. Even dialecticians of other schools of thought have made use of his arguments in establishing their own positions. For instance Vyasatirtha, belonging to the Madhva school of Vedanta, has fully utilized the arguments of Anandabodha and Prakāśātman for purposes of refutation in his Nyayamṛta.

Anandabodha is credited with the authorship of four works on Advaita, Nyayamakaranda, Pramāṇamālā, Nyayadipavali and Nyayadipika. The last work, also called Sabdanirnayadipikā, is a commentary on the Sabdanirnaya of Präkäśätman. Of these Nyayamakaranda is the greatest and philosophically the most valuable. It is his magnum opus. It has been commented on by both Citsukha and Anubhutisvarupācārya. The latter has written commentaries also on Pramaṇamälä and Nyayadipävali while the former on Pramanamälä.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages