Essentials of Buddhism and Jainism: The Avaidika Darsana Sangraha of Gangadhara Vajapeyayaji

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. English translation of the text. 3. Avaidikadarsanasangraha. Appendices. Glossary of technical terms.

Avaidikadarsanasangraha of Gangadhara Vajapeyayaji is a short compendium in Sanskrit on the essentials of the two major systems of Indian philosophy viz. Jainism and Buddhism. The author who flourished under the famous King Sahaji (1684-1710) of Tanjore succinctly provides an overview of the tenets animating both these systems with special attention to their metaphysical and epistemological views. The work avoids much of the later abstruse philosophical discussions and presents only the fundamentals. In the first part on Buddhism the author explains the four schools of Buddhist philosophy and their basic differences besides defining the main categories. And here we get an illuminating account of the doctrine of pratityasamutpada and its different varieties. The second part dealing with Jainism is devoted to the definition of Jaina categories and is followed by a detailed account of syadvada. Written in a lucid style and simple language the work can be ready by general readers and philosophers alike. It covers within a short compass, a wide range of the key concepts of both these systems. The present edition contains the original text in Sanskrit along with an introduction, English translation and glossary of technical terms. Though designed for beginners the work will be useful for students and teachers undertaking serious further study of these philosophical system.