On Tarka

[Guest guest]

Almost all biographies of Acharyas of traditional

vedantic system (advaita/vishistadvaita/dvaita)

say, while dealing with their learing phase after sanyasa,

that they have mastered vyakarana(&alankara), nyaya,

tarka, mimamsa and vedanta. Even yoga has been practised

by the acharyas of advaita system (such as Sri Sadasiva Bhramendra,

HH Gnana nanda Giri of Thiruk Koviloor, HH Sivabhinava

Narasimha Bharathi and HH Abhinava Vidya Thirtha of Sringeri).

 

1. While nyaya, yoga, mimamsa & vedanta are part of the Indian

philosophy, where does 'tarka' fit in ? Is it a shastra or a

generic 'dos and don'ts' manual for those engaged in philosophical

debates in those days ?

 

2. Why were vaiseshika & sankhya not mentioned as major areas of

study as much as other four systems ?

 

Regards,

 

Sudhakar

[Guest guest]

Greetings Dr. Sudhakar:

 

The questions that you have raised are profound and I refer you to the

excellent book, "The Vedas" by Kanchi Paramacharya Sri.

Chandrasekarendra Saraswati. According to this book, vaiseshika &

sankhya fall within the broad category - Nyaya.

 

This book contains a summary chart that lists the sacred books using a

broader classification of the Hindu Scriptures and the linkages between

them. The book also discusses each of the items in the chart in various

chapters. This is a great reference book to understand the Vedic

Religion.

 

Dr. M. Giridhar <giridhar reports that sections

of the book, "The Vedas" by Pujyasri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Svami

(kanchi periyava) published by the Bharatiya vidya Bhavan is available

in the Internet at URL:

 

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4240/hinduism.html

 

Other scholars in the list will provide you additional clarifications on

your questions regarding thphilosophical thought process of the vedantic

system.

 

Regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

The Chart

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Classification of Vedas

Vedas - Rgveda, Yajurveda, SAmaveda, Atharvaveda

 

Subclassification of Vedas - VedaSAkhA, SamhitA/BrAhmana, Aranyaka and

Upanishad ( More details including the names of the Rishis associated

the subgroups are also included in the chart.

 

Vedangas - SiksA, VyAkarana, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyo'tisa, Kalpa

Upaangas - MimAmsA, nyaaya, PurAna, dharmaSAstra

 

The sacred books of Vedic religion

 

PrasthAAnatrayi - The Orthodox Hindu Texts on TatavjNAna- Metaphysics.

 

Text with Principal Commentaries:

Bhagavad Gita - Gitabhasya of Sankara, Gitabhasya of Ramanuja,

Gitabhasya of Madhvacharya, Jnanesvari of JNAnadev, Gitabhasya of

AnandaTirtha, Subodhini - SriDharabhasya

 

Upanishads (12): Sankarabhasya on 12 Upanishads, Anandatirthabhasya

 

Brahmasutras: Sarirakabhasya of Sankaracharya, Sribhasya of

Ramanujacarya, Sutrabhasya of Madhvacharya, NimhbArkAcharya,

VallabhAcharya, BaladevAcharya, SrikanthasivAcarya, Sripatipandita

 

Sub-commentraies (VyAkhyA, VarthikA, TikA):

 

Bhagavad Gita: AnandaGirivyAkhyA, gudArthadipika of

Madhusudhanasaravati, GitArthasangraha of Yamunacharya,

Tatprayachandrika of Desikar, GitatAt Paryanirnaya, GitavivrTTi of

Raghavendraswami, Amrtatarangini by Rahunathadas, JayatirthamunivyakhyA,

Gitrarhahsya of Tilak.

 

Upanishads: Suresvara's Yartika on tait and Brhd.Upanishad, Isopanishad

Bhasya by Vedantadesikar, Rangaramujamuni on

Tenupanishads,Jayatirthavyakhya.

 

Brahmasutras (Sarirakabhaysa of Sankara): Vivrana School (Pancapadika &

Tattvadipana), Bhamati School (Bhamati, Kalpataru, Parimal, Abhoga),

brahmasutradipika, Ratnaprabha, Bhasyabhanuprabha, Nyaya nirnaya of

Anandagir, Chandrika Nyayendusekara, Khandanakhandhkhadya,

Brahmavidyabharana.

 

The subcommentaries of Brahmasutras of Sribhasya and Sutrabhasya and

others are included in the chart.

 

Four Upavedas:

Ayurveda - CaraksamhitA, suSrutasamhitA, BhAvaprakASa, BelasamhitA

 

ArthaSAstra - Kautilya's ArthaSAstra, Kamandakiya NitSAra,

NitivaAkyAmtra of Somadevasuri, SukranitiSAra, Manusmrti, etc.,

 

Dhanurveda - Mahabharata, Agnipuraana, PrasthaAnabheda of Madhusarasvati

 

Gandharvaveda - Bharatnatyasastra, Visnudharmottaram, Sahityadarpana of

Visvanatha, DhvanyAloka of Anandavardhana, etc.

 

 

Thirty two Primary VidyAs: Rgveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda,

Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, Gandharvaveda, Tantra, SiksA, VyAkarana, Kalpa,

Nirukta, Jyotisa, Chanda, MimAmsa, Tarka, Sankya, VedAnta, Yoga,

ItihAsa, PurAna, Smrti, Nastikamata, ArthaSAstra, KamaSAstra,

SilpaSAstra, Alankrti, Kavya, Desabhsa, Avasarokti, Yavanamata,

DeSAdidharma.

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