Kumarila Bhatta
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Kumarila Bhatta (Sanskrit: कुमारिल भट्ट, fl. 690s) was a Hindu philosopher and Mimamsa scholar from Prayag (Now Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India). Little is known about his biography, but he is famous for many of his seminal theses on mimamsa, such as Mimamsaslokavarttika. His arguments against Buddhism, and in particular its attack on the Vedic sacrificial system, may have contributed in some part, to the decline of Buddhism in India. His teachings also influenced other schools of Hinduism based on the Vedas, most notably Advaita Vedanta.
Kumarila Bhatta was a believer of the karma theory of Hinduism, a great champion of Poorva-Mimamsa and a confirmed Ritualist. He made a special study of the sacrificial rites, which were central to Mimansa Philosophy, as opposed to Vedantic Advaita, which advocated the path of Knowledge.
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[edit] Study of Buddhism
At the time, Buddhism was a major religion in India. In those days, debates between Hindu and Buddhist scholars, regarding the validity of their respective religions, were common. The increasing popularity of Buddhism and the rise of buddhist kingdoms like Pala, were of some concern to the Hindu scholars. Also, there was interest among the scholars in harmonizing the two religions (which were seen as two differing schools of belief at the time, rather than as two different religions).
At that time, Nalanda was the greatest university in the world, attracting students from as far as Turkey and Korea. It was the best place to learn the principles and nuances of Buddhist philosophy, as it had over 2000 monks and researchers as well as a vast collection of Buddhist scriptures. In order to master Buddhism, Kumarila Bhatta (who was supposedly in his 80s at the time) disguised himself as a Buddhist monk and learnt from a guru.
After his learning was finished, he asked to debate his own teacher, which was considered the impropriety of all improprieties (Guru-droha). When his Guru ridiculed some Hindu beliefs and doubted the Vedas, Kumarila Bhatta got very perturbed and tears start flowing from his eyes. Alarmed, his guru refused to continue the debate and demanded to know who his true identity.
As a punishment, he was sentenced to death and was thrown from a cliff. According to legend, he declared that "If the Vedas are true, let me be saved". He survived the fall without injury, but was blinded in one eye by a stone. This was due to his doubting the Veda's infallibility (he should have said "AS the Vedas are true, let me be saved").
Kumarila Bhatta left Nalanda after that and settled down in Prayag (modern day Allahabad).
[edit] Self Immolation
Overcome with guilt for his trespasses, which included his sin of breach of trust against his Budhist Guru and the doubting of the vedas, he decided to commit Suicide by self immolation in "Tusanala" (fire kindled in paddy husk) as a form of Prayaschitta (atonement). (Note that while Hinduism considers suicide as a sin, Mahasamadhi is accepted as the union of the soul with god, and is accepted due to it requiring immense self-control and determination, rather than the impulsiveness that usually characterizes suicide. See also Cultural views, Sallekhana).
[edit] Meeting with Shankaracharya
According to a legend, Sankara wanted to have a debate with him on philosophy and hence came to Prayag to visit him. However, when Sankara came to him, Kumarila had already entered the funeral pyre. Shankara appealed to him to discontinue his self-immolation and come out to debate with him. However, having already begun the act, Kumarila refused to do so and advised Sankara to meet Viswarupa better known as Mandana Mishra who was one of his greatest and most erudite disciples and directed Shankara to debate with him. Kumarila then requested Sankara to chant the Taraka Mantra and hearing it, he gave up his body.
[edit] Major works
- Shlokavartika ("Exposition on the Verses", commentary on Shabara's Commentary on Jaimini's Mimamsa Sutras, Bk. 1, Ch. 1)
- Tantravartika ("Exposition on the Sacred Sciences", commentary on Shabara's Commentary on Jaimini's Mimamsa Sutras, Bk. 1, Ch. 2-4 and Bks. 2-3)
- Tuptika ("Full Exposition"commentary on Shabara's Commentary on Jaimini's Mimamsa Sutras, Bks. 4-9)
[edit] External link
- Text of Mimamsalokavarttika by Kumarila Bhatta (in transliterated Sanskrit)
- http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/shankaracharya
- http://www.crvp.org/book/Series03/IIIB-4/introduction.htm
- http://www.ourkarnataka.com/books/saartha_book_review.htm
[edit] Reference
- Daniel P. Sheridan, "Kumarila Bhatta", in Great Thinkers of the Eastern World, ed. Ian McGready, New York: Harper Collins, 1995, pp. 198-201. ISBN 0062700855
