SARVA MOOLA CHINTANAA Prakarana Granthas Katha- Lakshana कथा लक्षण
Any philosophical debate is called Katha ( कथा ). Certain guidelines and rules are laid down for a healthy philosophical debate in great Indian tradition. These are given in this text , Katha Lakhana, by Sri Madhva. The Philosophical debate is classified in three categories Viz,., Vaada , Jalpa and vitandaa i. When the teacher and the pupil or any two friendly scholars conduct a debate in order to discover the real truth of a subject or to show the truth more clearly and precisely, it is called Vaada Katha or Vaada. II. When two scholars enter into a debate to obtain the fame as a scholar or envying each other’s scholarship, then it is called Jalpa. Jalpa is conducted mainly to get victory over a rival , get a good name and fame.Vitandaa is also similar to Jalpa. Then what is Vitandaa ? III. When one of the scholars has an intention to conceit or reject the truth and enters into an argument with such intentions , then it is called vitandaa. In Vitandaa the debater need not establish his own point of view , but his main intention is to demolish the arguments of his rival , somehow or other. In Vitandaa and Jalpa , conquering a rival is an important criterion and not ascertaining the real truth. That is why Madhva says , scholars should engage in vaada-Katha only. For a philosophical debate , apart from the two contenders one or more prasnikaa or referees are necessary. The referees must by highly impartial , highly knowledgeable in the debating subject, and God-minded. They should dispel all doubts. Their qualifications are enumerated in this work in detail. Referees’ judgements are final and and binding on debaters. This is very important. An important requirement of a philosophical debate in Vedanta is, one has to quote from the Scripture to establish his point. The opposite party also should establish his contention by interpreting the Scripture to support his viewpoints. The arguments should be used only to determine the meaning of the Scripture one way or the other. In the case of vaada kathaa the inability to determine the Truth itself is defeat. In Jalpa and Vitandaa, one who is silenced in the debate is a loser. He has to pay a fine in the form, giving a jaya patrika or victory letter or some gift etc., All these are told in this work. Acharya Madhva says that he derived his ideas from Sri Veda Vyasa’s Brahma Tarka Grantha. Above are the brief summary of Katha lakshana Grantha. For this the following persons have written Tikas and Tippanis (Commentaries). S.No. Name of the authour Tika / Tippani 1 Jaya Tirtha Tika 2 Venkata Bhatta Rotti Tika 3 Vedesa Tirtha Tippani 4 Raghavendra Tirtha Tippani 5 Rotti Venkata Bhattaru Tippani 6 Vijayeendra Tirtha Tippani 7 Pandurangi Kesavacharya Tippani 8 Srinivasa Ananthachar Tippani 9 Lingeri Srinivasacharya Tippani 10 Vidyaadeesa Tirtha Tippani The work begins with the following Mangalacharana sloka. नृसिम्हमखिला ज्ञानतिमिरा शिशिरद्युतिम् । संप्रणम्य प्रवक्ष्यामि कथाकतणमंजसा ॥ The work closes with the following verse. सदोदितामित ज्ञान पूरवारित हृत्तमाः । नरसिम्हः प्रियतमाः प्रीयतां पुरुषोत्तमः ॥ Referees’ qualitieas are given as follows. रागद्वेषविहीनास्तु सर्वविद्या विशारदाः । प्राश्निका इति विज्ञेताः विषमाएक एव का ॥ अशेष संशयच्छेन्ता निस्सेशय उदारधी । एकश्चेत् प्राश्निको ज्ञेयस्सर्वदोष विवर्जितः ॥ एको वा बहवो वा सुविष्णुभक्तिपराः सदा । विष्णु भक्तिर्हि सर्वदा सद्गुणानां स्वलक्षणम् ॥ “ SriKrishnarpanamastu”