Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute

Review
Author(s): Kanchan Mande
Review by: Kanchan Mande
Source: Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Vol. 87 (2006), pp. 353-354
Published by: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41692078
Accessed: 03-03-2016 10:54 UTC

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 Reviews and Short Notices 353

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ADV AITA VEDANTA : By K. Narain,

M. A. D. Phil., Pub. by Indological Research Centre, Varanasi.

"The fundamentals of Advaita Vedãnta" is a monumental work in the

field of Advaita Vedãnta.

The book is divided into 13 chapters along with introduction,

bibliography and index. The introduction again is divided into two sections.
One is 'Šáňkara School and its Literature' and second is 'Resumé of
Adviata Vedãnta Philosophy'. The first section viz. 'Šáňkara School and
its Literature' begins with the etymological meaning of the word Vedãnta.
As it is mentioned there originally, the term Vedãnta stood for the
Upanishads, and in course of time all other scriptures and writings
expounding their philosophy and thought were brought under this preview.
Then the description of Šáňkara School begins. First one is Gaudapãda,
the originator and the first exponent of the Vedãnta system. The author
provides detailed account of his Mandükya Upanisad Kãrikãs. Then the
author describes Šaňkarácárya, the originator and propagator of the
monistic philosophy of Vedãnta. He mentions that Hindu tradition
attributes to Šaňkara the authorship of nearly 200 major and minor works.
After Šaňkara, K. Narian gives information about the direct and indirect
disciples of Šaňkara, foremost among them are Surešvara and Padmapãda
and Vácaspati Mišra, Prakãáãtman and Sarvajñátamuni respectively. The
second section i. e. 'Resumé of Adviata Vedãnta Philosophy' points out
the important and fundamental problems, such as the nature of the Ultimate
Reality, the ignorance ( ajMna ), theory of liberation of Vedãnta philosophy
of Šaňkara and his followers. The author further proclaims that he ventures
to discuss them, in detail, in the following chapters. It shows author's genuine
interest in the subject.

The chapter named 'Criterion of Truth' is one of the important chapters

of the text. It discusses the concept of Truth expounded by the Realist school
of Indian Philosophy, with special reference to Nyãya school and in the
conclusion three orders of reality which are the modus operandi of Šaňkara.
Next chapter deals with it in detail. It is followed by the chapter named 'The
Nature of Falsehood' where; the author discusses five definitions adopted by
Madhusudana Sarasvatï in his Advaitasiddhi . This discussion suggests author's
insight in the subject.

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354 Annals BORI, LXXXVII ( 2006 )

On this firm foundation the core concepts are discussed. First one among
them is 'Epistemology'. As it is a pivotal concept, author gives utmost
importance to it. It is divided into six sub-chapters viz. the idea of knowledge,
states and forms of knowledge, means of knowledge, relation between
experience, reason and authority, validity of knowledge and the last one is
false knowledge ( avidyã ). In the discussion of the 'false knowledge ( avidyã )
the author has taken into consideration Mímãmsã theories of Prabhãkara and
Kumärila, Nyäya, Sämkhya, Satkhyãti of Rãmãnuja, Asatkhyãti of
Mãdhyamika Buddhists, Atmakhyãti of Yogãcãra Buddhism and as a
conclusion Anirvacaníyakhyãti of Advaita Vedãnta. This author's contribution
is really praiseworthy.

Remaining chapters are 'refutation of difference', 'theory of causality',

'the conception of Mãyã', 'the concept of God (Išvara)', 'Philosophy of
individual soul', 'philosophy of world', and the last one is 'the summum bonum
and the means'. The last chapter is summum bonum in real sense. It discusses
the nature of Moksa, pathways to the liberation, doctrine of Jîvanmukti. Then
the author explains knowledge as means to liberation, and he puts utility of
Karma and Bhakti as means to knowledge. Unlike Bhagavadgítã he finds
knowledge superior to Karma and Bhakti, which is in favor of Šaňkara.

Then the author Mr. K. Narian provides the bibliography including fifty-
nine Sanskrit texts and forty-four modem works, which shows author's deep
study of the subject. The text ends with the index of Sanskrit words.

The author has taken painstaking efforts to support Šaňkara 's position,
and is successful in handling such a difficult task. So Mr. K. Narian is worthy
to be congratulated and the text is worth possessing.
- Ranchan Mande

***

SIGN AND STRUCTURE : INDOLOGICAL ESSAYS by

C. Rajendran; published by C. Rajendran, Professor and Head,
Department of Sanskrit, University of Calicut, Kerala - 673635 (with
financial assistance from the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi);
2000; pp. 144.

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