Bhartṛhari and Maṇḍana on avidyā

Journal of Indian Philosophy 37 (4):367-382 (2009)
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Abstract

The concept of avidyā is one of the central categories in the Advaita of Śaṇkara and Maṇḍana. Shifting the focus from māyā, interpreted either as illusion or as the divine power, this concept brings ignorance to the forefront in describing duality and bondage. Although all Advaitins accept avidyā as a category, its scope and nature is interpreted in multiple ways. Key elements in Maṇḍana’s philosophy include the plurality of avidyā, individual selves as its substrate and the Brahman as its field (viṣaya), and the distinction in avidyā between non-apprehension and misapprehension. A closer investigation shows that Maṇḍana is directly influenced by Bhartṛhari’s linguistic non-dualism in developing the concept of avidyā. This study also compares other key constituents such as vivartta and pariṇāma that are relevant to the analysis of avidyā. As the concept of counter-image (pratibimba) emerges as a distinct stream of Advaita subsequent to Maṇḍana, this study also compares the application of pratibimba in the writings of Bhartṛhari and Maṇḍana

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References found in this work

A history of early Vedānta philosophy.Hajime Nakamura - 1983 - Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. Edited by Trevor Leggett.
The Advaita Vedānta of Brahma-siddhi.Allen Wright Thrasher - 1993 - Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
Vivarta: studien zur Geschichte der illusionistischen Kosmologie und Erkenntnistheorie der Inder.Paul Hacker - 1953 - Akademie der Wissenschaften Und der Literatur in Kommission Bei Franz Steiner.

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