The revival of Sphoṭa in early modern Benares: Śeṣakṛṣṇa's Sphoṭatattvanirūpaṇa

Thesis

This thesis examines the revival of the sphoṭa doctrine in early modern Benares and Śeṣakṛṣṇa's Sphoṭatattvanirūpaṇa as an influential work in that revival. The sphoṭa doctrine is the richest contribution of the grammarians to the philosophy of language, but its semantic significance was not highlighted until late, because its theological implication was stronger. Śeṣakṛṣṇa was a renowned Sanskrit grammarian who flourished in sixteenth-century Benares. He also wrote poetry and Dharmaśāstric works, and played an important role as a juridical authority. Despite his illustrious career, Śeṣakṛṣṇa encountered criticism for his works from contemporary critics. The only work he wrote solely on the philosophy of language was the Sphoṭatattvanirūpaṇa. As the first discrete work on sphoṭa by a grammarian, the Sphoṭatattvanirūpaṇa represented an important landmark in the later expositions of the doctrine of sphoṭa particularly because it renewed the later grammarians' interest in sphoṭa, which then resulted in a series of individual works of a similar sort. The revival of the sphoṭa doctrine in early modern Benares coincided with that of the philosophy of language, which was caused by a number of social and intellectual factors in different proportions and phases. Śeṣakṛṣṇa's Sphoṭatattvanirūpaṇa emerged on the eve of that revival, and can be recognized as a pioneer work in terms of its revitalization of the grammarians' interpretation of sphoṭa after a period of dormancy, and its influence on later works on sphoṭa.

Authors: Seneviratne, R

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-vjgmm2vpq
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Sphota; Sesakrsna; Sphoṭatattvanirūpaṇa; Sphoṭa; Early Modern India; Śeṣakṛṣṇa; Sphotatattvanirupana
• Subjects: Sanskrit language--Grammar; Early Modern India; Philosophy of Language; Sphota