Studies in Jayarasi Bhatta’s Critique of Knowing from Words: Tattvopaplavasimha: Sabdapramanyasya Nirasah

This book, the first English translation of and commentary on the last chapter. Titled Sabdapramanyasya nirasah of Jayarasibhatta’s Tattvopaplavasimha in philosophical terms, fulfils a long-left need. It throws light on many subtle aspects of ancient Indian philosophy of language. Apart from containing the text in Roman as well as in Devanagari scripts, it includes an extensive critical investigation about Jayarasibhatta’s philosophical position, a critical exposition of the main arguments in clear terms with relevant notes and comments. An authentic version of the text has been prepared with meticulous care in order to avoid the corrupt reading of the text. Jayarasibhatta is an 8th century philosopher who, according to the author, represents a pure, unmixed and thorough-going form of cognitive skepticism. In this book a special form of argumentative tradition through dialectics is noticeable in Jayarasibhatta’s criticism of different claims made by different Indian philosophers in favour of Knowing from Words. It also focuses on how critically ancient Indian philosophers were engaged in debate regarding the problem of meaning.