[Advaita-l] Concept of prAk-abhAva in advaita vedAnta

[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

Hari Om,

It is crucial to understand that prAk-abhAva is not admitted in advaita
vedAnta. Its usage is merely by following the NyAya view for the time
being. Great discussion on this has been done in Advaita Siddhi in
pratyaksha-pramANa-vichAraha-in-ajnAna. I have made a study of the relevant
sections within this chapter which dealt with prAk-abhAva, and also related
sections in Tattva-pradIpikA, VedAnta ParibhAshA and Tattva anusandhAnam. I
have summarised the discussions in a PDF which can be downloaded from
https://sudhanshushekhar.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/concept-of-prak-abhava-in-advaita-vedanta.pdf

The discussions are intense and require some prior basic understanding of
prAk-abhAva, which we all have. Hence, that is not elaborated.

I request learned members to shower their kind indulgence by going
through the write-up and point to me the infirmities in my understanding,
wherever noticed. I will be immensely grateful for that. A quick snapshot
of the issues discussed are as under:

   1. prAk-abhAva is not admitted in siddhAnta.
   2. All requirements of prAk-abhAva can be explained by
   samaya-visehsha-avachchhinna-atyanta-abhAva.
   3. prAk-abhAva cannot be
   sAmAnya-dharma-avachchhinna-pratiyogitAka-abhAva.
   4. There is no pratIti of prAk-abhAva.
   5. tat-kAla-avachchhinna-yAvat-vishesha-abhAva-kUTa having a
   pratiyogitAkatva which is avachchhinna   by  sAmAnya-dharma is the vishaya
   of pratIti ‘इहेदानीं घटो नास्तीति’.
   6. It is impossible to admit a sAmAnya-abhAva in addition to
   yAvat-vishesha-abhAva-kUTa.
   7. It is acceptable in siddhAnta for abhAva to be adhikaraNa-swarUpa.
   8. abhAvAs are not necessarily distinct if pratiyogitA-avachchhedaka are
   distinct.
   9. While samaya-vishesha-anavachchhinna-atyanta-abhAva is contradictory
   to upAdAnatva, samaya-vishesha-avachchhinna-atyanta-abhAva is not
   contradictory to upAdAnatva.
   10. Following NaiyAyikAs, at some places in siddhAnta, the usage of
   prAk-abhAva is made such as in avidyA-anumAna in VivaraNa. However, this
   does not imply that prAk-abhAva is accepted in siddhAnta.

Regards.
Sudhanshu Shekhar.