Candra-Gomin
Summary
This biographical study reconstructs the life and contributions of Candra‑gomin, an influential Buddhist grammarian and Tantric devotee from Bengal. Using Tibetan sources and surviving Sanskrit fragments, the author situates him in the early centuries of the common era and credits him with founding the Candra school of Sanskrit grammar. Bhartrhari mentions earlier grammarians such as Baspi and Sauva who preceded Candracarya, and later legends recount his criticism of Patanjali’s Mahabhasya. Candra‑gomin’s principal work, the Candravyakarana, comprises six chapters of four sections each and reorders Panini’s rules to create a more accessible system. It simplifies wording, modifies pratyaharas, changes technical terminology and omits Vedic rules; thus it is not a mere copy but an attempt at recasting Panini. Although the system was used in Kashmir, Nepal, Tibet and Ceylon, it left little lasting legacy because of its lack of originality. The article also emphasises Candra‑gomin’s stature as a poet and philosopher, noting his influence on Buddhist scholasticism. It concludes that the Candra school illustrates the dynamism of grammatical experimentation and the interaction between Buddhist and Brahmanical linguistic traditions.
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Conclusion
Candra‑gomin emerges as a key figure in early medieval Sanskrit scholarship. His Candravyakarana sought to streamline Panini’s system, redistributing and rephrasing rules to make them more accessible, which gained it temporary prominence across Buddhist centres. Though the system offered little original doctrine and eventually faded, its existence attests to dynamic grammatical experimentation and the spread of linguistic study beyond Brahmanical circles. The article thus highlights how Buddhist scholasticism contributed to Sanskrit linguistic tradition and how regional innovations interacted with canonical texts.