It is really a matter of great pleasure for the L. D. Institute of Indology to publish "Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion" by the learned author Dr. Yajneshwar S. Shastri. This book is a collection of some excellent research papers which display the author's erudite scholarship in the wide area of Indian Philosophy and Religion. This work is an output of indepth study of original texts of Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
L. D, Institute of Indology is grateful to Professor Yajneshwar Shastri for allowing us to publish his research papers in book-form in our L. D. Series. We also thank him for correction of proofs.
We hope that the 'Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion' will be welcomed by scholars and less trodden path will become frequently trodden path.
The present book is a collection of important selected research papers on Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism, written by me during last six to seven years period. All the papers are based on study of original Sanskrit texts and exclusively devoted to neglected aspects of Indian Philosophy and Religion. As for as I know, no substantial research has been made on these topics so far. Some of the papers were presented in national and international conferences and won the recognition of these learned bodies. Almost all the papers included in this book have been published from time to time in research journals and periodicals devoted to Indological studies. Indian and foreign scholars in the field of Indology encouraged me to bring out all these papers in a book form. I have selected only twenty-two research papers to include in this book. Eighteen papers are in English and four in Sanskrit, wnich were presented in various 'Pandita Parisads.
Really speaking, there is no scope for exhaustive introduction in a book like this one, because it is not concerned with one single subject. But different papers on different subjects can be summarised in short in the interest of the readers. Each paper has its own significance in the field of research.
In the first paper, an attempt is made to throw light on commendable contribution made by the Jaina thinkers to reconcile divergent philosophical viewpoints in the field of Indian philosophy. It is also shown that how their Anekantavada doctrine itself leads to this reconciliation in the end.
Second paper deals with, for the first time on the presentation and refutation of Advaita by Jaina philosophers, which is an out-come of indepth study of philosophical texts of Jain thinkers. In this paper, one can read the criticism of Advaitic doctrines of non-dual Brahman, Maya, Self, Liberation etc., by the Jaina philosophers.
Umasvati Vacaka's contribution to Jain philosophy is unparallel. Infact entire palace of Jaina philosophy is erected on his two foundational works, viz, Tattvarthadhigamasatra', also known as Tattvarthasutra' and 'Prasamaratiprakarana. Third paper, in nutshell, highlights his contribution not only to Jaina Philosophy but to Indian Philosophy in general, comparing his views with other systems of Indian thought. Fourth paper deals with doctrine of Truths in Jainism, Buddhism and Advita Vedanta, in comparative light. It is observed that, this doctrine is common to all the three schools of thought and all of them have derived their ideas from Upanisadic literature. Fifth paper is devoted to the study of commentaries on Prajamaratiprakarana' of Umasvati Vacaka. Sixth paper is on comparitive study between Prasamarati and Tattvarthasutra. In this paper, an attempt is made to show that Prasamarati is a work of Umasvati. Yajovijaya occupies an unique place among the Jain philosophers. He was a versatile genius and master of almost all schools of Indian philosophy. His personality was combination of scholarship and saintlihood. Seventh paper throws light on mystical side of this great scholarly saint of Jainism. Jaina's famous doctrine of Anckantavada is based on their conception of Existence and Substance. Eighth paper deals with important Jaina philosophical concepts, such as-'Existence (sat), Substance (dravya), qualities (gunas) and modilications (paryayas) in comparison with Nyaya-Vaisesika and others. It also highlights the peculiarity of definition of reality given by the Jainas.
Hindu (1765)
Philosophers (2327)
Aesthetics (317)
Comparative (66)
Dictionary (12)
Ethics (44)
Language (350)
Logic (80)
Mimamsa (58)
Nyaya (134)
Psychology (497)
Samkhya (60)
Shaivism (66)
Shankaracharya (233)
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