[Advaita-l] Accepting Possibility of Error in Sastras

[Rajaram Venkataramani]

You can find a reliable English translation here
http://sanskritdocuments.org/sites/snsastri/siddhanta.pdf

And I guess the original is here
http://www.scribd.com/doc/17704389/Siddhanta-Bindu-Madhusudan-SaraswatiText-Commentary-Sanskrit


On Sat, Dec 29, 2012 at 1:34 AM, Sunil Bhattacharjya <
sunil_bhattacharjya at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Dear friends,
>
> Quote
> However, we see that Madhusudana says in Siddanthabindu (v 79),
> "The scriptures may state something that is merely the outcome of
> delusion".
> Unquote
>
> I shall be thankful if RV or any other member can kindly give the Sanskrit
> texts of v. 78 &79 of Siddhantabindu in Devanagari script (unicode).
>
> Regards,
> Sunil KB
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Rajaram Venkataramani <rajaramvenk at gmail.com>
> To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 6:22 AM
> Subject: [Advaita-l] Accepting Possibility of Error in Sastras
>
>  In many religions, the scriptures are considered inerrant. We also
> consider
> the sastras to be the authroity. There is a lot of logic given to establish
> why sabda is pramana. There are stories such as Kumarila Bhatta's
> where complete acceptance of the authority of the sastras is
> reinforced. However, we see that Madhusudana says in Siddanthabindu (v 79),
> "The scriptures may state something that is merely the outcome of
> delusion". Here he admits that sastras can be erroneous. Though the
> tradition accepts the vedic model for creation, we see that there is a
> recognition of a contradictions there that is to be resolved through
> reason. For example, Gaudapada says (I.23), "In the matter of being
> created, whether from the already existent or from the non-existent also,
> the Sruti is equal, that is supporting both views. What is associated with
> or fortified with logical reasoning holds not the other".  The importance
> of reasoning is also stressed by Madhusudana, "The creation of names and
> forms by Him who does the triplication in BSB 2.4.20 in only an explanatory
> statement and cannot nullify quintuplication which is established by
> reasoning".  Sankara himself says, forget where, "Even a thousand sruti
> statements cannot make fire cold." In his bhashyas, we often see him quote
> sruti and then the opponent makes a logical counter to sruti. Sankara does
> not dismiss off the opponent saying that there cannot be a logical
> opposition because already the point has been established using sruti. He
> defends his position using logic.
>
> Are there conditions in which sastras can be accepted as erroneous? I am
> not talking about a presumption of error in sastras without evidence. But
> when there is concrete evidence based on pratyaksha and anumana that shows
> that the sastras are not correct, what is the valid traditional response?
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