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More Light on the Authorship of Bhasapariccheda

By Dinesh Chandra Bhattacharya

Vol. 24 · No. 2June - 1948pp. 156–161English

Summary

Revisiting debates about the authorship of the Bhāsāpariccheda, a popular Nyāya manual, the author examines colophons, manuscripts and commentaries. He notes that multiple scholars – including Krṣṇadāsa Sārvabhauma and Jagaddhara – contributed to the work, suggesting that it evolved through successive revisions rather than being solely authored by Viśvanātha Pañcānana. Some manuscripts refer to Krṣṇadāsa’s separate work, the Muḳtāvalī, as a ‘new feather’ in his cap, implying his authorship or substantial contribution. The article describes Krṣṇadāsa as a distinguished Navadvīpa scholar of the mid‑sixteenth century who wrote commentaries on Nyāya texts. It concludes that while Viśvanātha may have compiled the final form, earlier scholars played significant roles and the Bhāsāpariccheda should be viewed as a composite work.

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Conclusion

Through textual detective work, the article clarifies the composite authorship of the Bhāsāpariccheda and highlights the contributions of Krṣṇadāsa Sārvabhauma and others. It demonstrates how careful analysis of commentaries and manuscripts can illuminate the evolution of canonical texts.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

  • “In 1941 we published cettain facts which seem to show that the almost universal ascription of the authorship of the Bhasapariccheda and its commentary the Siddbantamuktavali to the famous Visvanatha Paficanana is open to serious doubts (vide 1.77.Q., XVII, pp. 241-44).”
  • “With the discovery of more evidence on the point stated below it can now be confidently asserted that Visvenatha Paficanana was not the author of the Bhisapariccheda-Muktavali, which was a much earlier work.”

Works cited in this article

  1. Siddbantamuktavali
  2. Muktavali
  3. Nydyabbasya
  4. Tatparyatika
  5. Nyayatattvaloka, Ms. No. 205, India Office Library, London

Discussed in this article

People

  • Visvanatha Paficanana
  • Bhavananda Siddhintavagisa
  • Srinatha Tarkalahkara
  • (Rama-) Dulala Tarkavagisa
  • Raghumani Vidyabhisana
  • Udayanacarya 5
  • Kesumaajali
  • Paramananda Bhateacarya-Cakravarti
  • Rudra Tarkavagisa
  • Vidvanivasa
  • Visvanacha Vidyavagiga-Cakravarti
  • Rudradeva Tarkavagisa
  • Mahamahopadhyaya Krsnadasa Sarvabhauma

Texts & works

  • Bhasapariccheda
  • Siddbantamuktavali

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