Tarka-Sangraha (IAST: Tarka-saṅgraha) is a treatise in Sanskrit giving a foundational exposition of the ancient Indian system of logic and reasoning. The work is authored by Annambhatta and the author himself has given a detailed commentary, called Tarka-Sangraha Deepika, for the text.[1] [2] Annambhatta composed the text as well as the commentary in the second half of 17th century CE.[3] The text of Tarka-sangraha is a small book with about 15 pages only[4] and it was composed to help boys and girls learn easily the basic principles of Nyaya. Of all the works of Annambhatta, only Tarka-Sangraha and its commentary attained wide acceptance. They have been used as basic text for beginners for several generations.
In Indian philosophical writings, the traditional structure of presenting a system consisted of three things: uddesa (listing of items to be discussed), laksana (defining each item in the list) and pariksa (critically examining whether the definitions apply properly to the items defined). The Tarka-Sangraha follows this model except for the third item of pariksa. The text presents the ontology, logic and epistemology of the Nyaya-Vaiseshika system.
Tarka-Sangraha is a compound of the words "tarka" and "saṃgraha." Saṃgraha means collection or compilation.[5] Tarka has various meanings, but Annambhatta defines it in his commentary, Tarka-Samgraha-Dipika, as all the categories accepted in Vaiśeṣika philosophy.
Annambhatta begins the Tarka-Sangraha with a verse in prayer to Shiva and salutations to his guru.
Practically only very little is known about Annambhatta the author of Tarka-Sangraha. From the scanty references to other works and writers contained in his works, it has been estimated that Annambhatta must be a comparatively modern author and he must have flourished during the seventeenth century CE. His father was Tirumala Ācārya from Advaitavidyācārya Rāghava Somyāji's family.[6] Tirumala was Tailanga Brahmin of North Arcot District of erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh who had settled down in Benares.[7] He was a Rigvedi Smarta Brahmana well versed in Vedanta philosophy.
Annambhatta's native village was Garikapāda.[8] Annambhatta was a learned man in several areas of traditional scholarship, namely, Nyaya, Vyakarana, Vedanta and Purva-Mimamsa. He studied grammar with Śeṣa Vīreśvara while in Varanasi. He learned about Advaita Vedanta from Brahmendra Sārasvatī and Mimamsa from Viśvanātha.[9]
Though not as well known as Tarka-Sangraha, many of Annambhatta's works on other disciplines have survived. Besides, Tarka-Sangraha and its Commentary Dipika, the following works have been attributed to Annambhatta:
Annambhata only mentions his name in the colophon of the Tarka-Sangraha.
| kaṇādanyāyamatayorvālavyutpatti siddhaye |annaṃbhaṭṭena viduṣā racitastarkasaṃgrahaḥ | The learned scholar, Annambhaṭṭa, has composed this text called Tarkasangraha in order to facilitate the understanding of the learners about the doctrines of Kaṇāda i.e. Vaiśeṣika and Nyāya.[10] |
Because of its wide popularity, several scholars have written commentaries on Tarks-Sangraha. Annambhatta, the author of the treatise, himself has written a commentary named Tarka-Samgraha-Dipika. Researchers have located as many as 90 different commentaries on Tarka-Sangraha including the one by Annambhatta.[7]