Tattvasangraha, 2 Vols

Swami Dwarikadas Sastri is now editing the Tattvasangraha of Santaraksita with Kamalasila's Panjika. It was first edited and published in the Gaekwara Oriental series. It created a stir in the academic world. Dharmakirti's Pramanavarttika was then inaccessible. The Tattvasangraha throws literally a flood of light on Buddhist metaphysics of the Sautrantika Yogacara school and logic and epistemology. The most remarkable feature of this work is its reproduction of the views of scholars who otherwise would have remained in perfect oblivion. Kamalasila gives the names of the authors and quotes from them. It show the philosophical activities and speculations of nearly three centuries from time of Dharmakirti down to Uddyotakara. It was a period of brisk speculaion and hard thinking. Dignaga and Dharmakirti's works gave a good jolt and shock to orthodox schools of philosophy. They were faced with the risk of loss of prestige and even existence. The philosophical complacency was made impossible.

From the study of this work along with Uddyotakara's Nyayavarttika and Kumarila's works one can easily gather the cultural movements of centuries. The ruthles attack on the realism sponsored by the Nyaya school and particularly the reputation of the Soul theories, backed by powerful logic created a veritable peril. The criticism of the infallibility of the Vedas provoked spirited counter-attacks from the Mimansa school of which Kumarila was the most powerful exponent, and acted as the defender of the faith. The counter-criticisms of these orthodox stalwarts succeeded in undermining the prestige of the Buddhist church. But the Buddhist were not supine and reacted with vigour and verve. The Tattva-samgraha preeminently represents this phase of Buddhist reaction. This rivalry and intellectual combats served a very salutary purpose. It brought into being intellectual stalwarts on both sides. These giants were to be admired not only for their thoughts but also for their language. Such a command of Sanskrt and its felicity of expression and masterful diction will remain an object of admiration for all time to come.