Analytical Study of the Abhidharmakosa (An Old and Rare Book)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The Abhidharmakosa of Vasubandhu (C. 5th century A. D) is a Buddhistic work well-known for its harmonious synthesis of all the great doctrines accepted in general by all the contemporary schools of Buddhism. The text is looked upon as an authoritative treatise of the Vaibhasikas (specially the Vaibhasikas of Kashmir), but the three other principal schools of Buddhism viz., the Sautrantikas, the Yogacaras and the Madhyamikas also are agreeable to accept it in spite of the difference in their sectarian viewpoints. In the Buddhistic circle much importance has been attached to this text because of the fact that it contains not only the fundamental principles of Buddhism, but also gives an exhaustive and systematic exposition of the Abhidharma doctrines of the ancient schools of Buddhism that came into being within a period of eight hundred years after the Mahaparinirvana of Buddha. It is, therefore, quite in the fitness of things that it occupies a place of eminence in the whole range of Buddhistic thought and literature.

It is, however, interesting to note here that Sanghabhadra, notwith- standing his antagonism to some of the views of Vasubandhu contained in his 'bhasya', had no quarrel with the 'karika' text. The only dissentient voice against Vasubandhu's treatise is to be found in the anonymous Abhidharmadipa and its 'vrtti', which appear to detect some Mahayana leanings of Vasubandhu and claim to propound the essence of the Abhidharma forgotten by Vasubandhu.

The work found its place in the Chinese Tripitaka in two differentversions, one by Paramartha (563-567 A. D.) and the other by Hiuentsang (651-654 A. D.), who translated the karikas also. In the Tibetan Tanjur also there are two versions: by Jinamitra and Srikutaraksita (C. 816-838 A. D.). The original Sanskrit text was considered as lost, but fortunately for us, Mahapandita Rahula Samkrtyayana was able to discover the original text along with the Sanskrit bhasya written by Vasubandhu himself from the Tibetan monastery of Ngor in 1935, both of which he procured through photo copies.

The Abhidharmakosa of Vasubandhu occupies a very important place in the history of Buddhism for its systematic and exhaustive treatment of the subject The most notable feature of this book is that although it is mainly based on the Vaibhasika philosophy of Kashmir, yet it covers the fundamental principles of Buddhist philosophy in general as a result of which even today it is an indispensable book not only to the Buddhists and the students of Buddhist philosophy but also to the students of philosophy in general as well as comparative world religions.

This special feature of this book has inspired me to go deep through it in original and the present work is an output of my untiring endeavour for some years. Here I have analysed the contents of the treatise systematically in English especially for the benefit of the English knowing students dealing with the subject. I have tried my best to utilise the original sources in Sanskrit as far as possible and I am glad to record my indebtedness to Unrai Wogihara, Prahlad Pradhan, Rahul Samkrtyayana and V. V. Gokhale for their valuable editions. I am very grateful to La Vallee Poussin as I have utilised his L'Abhidharmakosa 'de Vasubandhu which was a veritable help book to me. My obligations are also due to Th. Stcherbatsky, T. Kimura, J. Takakusu, Yamakami Sogen, P. S. Jaini, N. N. Law, Issai Funahashi, S. Fukaura, and others for their valuable contributions on the subject.

I am very much grateful to Prof. Bishnupada Bhattacharya, Principal, Sanskrit College, Calcutta, who has kindly arranged to publish the book first in the Our Heritage (Vols. XXI-XXIII), the Research Journal of the College and then in the present book form. My words are not sufficient to express my gratitude to him who in spite of his heavy pre-occupations made it convenient for him to write a Foreword to this humble work. I am also grateful to Dr. Kalikumar Dutta Sastri, Professor of Sanskrit Language and Literature, Research Department, Sanskrit College, Calcutta, as he has given me valuable suggestions for the betterment of my treatment of this work.