Introduction
Akalanka (also known as Akalank Deva and Bhatta Akalanka) was a Jain logician whose Sanskrit-language works are seen as landmarks in Indian logic. He lived from 720-780 A.D. and belonged to the Digambara sect of Jainism. His work Astasati, a commentary on Aptamimamsa of Acharya Samantabhadra deals mainly with jaina logic. He was a contemporary of Rashtrakuta king Krishna I. He is the author of Tattvārtharājavārtika, a commentary on major Jain text Tattvartha Sutra. He greatly contributed to the development of the philosophy of Anekantavada and is therefore called the "Master of Jain logic".
Life
Akalanka flourished in 750 AD. He was aware of the contents of the Angas, although it cannot be said whether they represent an idea rather than a reality for him, and he also seems to have been the first Digambara to have introduced as a valid form of scriptural classification the division into kalika and utkalika texts which was also employed by the Svetambaras. He is mentioned as a logician and a contemporary of Subhatunga and Rashtrakuta king Krishna I.
Works
The following Sanskrit-language works are attributed to Akalanka. Some of these are:
- Laghiyastraya
- Pramānasangraha
- Nyāyaviniscaya-vivarana
- Siddhiviniscaya-vivarana
- Astasati
- Tattvārtharājavārtika