Indian Philosophy v2.c24.s2.38

v2.c24.s2.38

Uddyotakara’s Nyāyavārttika (sixth century A.D.)³ is a defence of Vātsyāyana against the attacks of Dignāga. Dharmakīrti’s Nyāyabindu is a defence of Dignāga against the criticisms of Uddyotakara. If we assume that the Vādavidhi referred to by Uddyotakara⁴ is another name for Dharmakīrti’s Vādanyāya, and that the śāstra referred to by Dharmakīrti in his Nyāyabindu⁵ is the Vārttika of Uddyotakara, then these two writers may be supposed to belong to the same period. The latest date, however, for Dharmakīrti is the beginning of the seventh century.⁶ In the ninth century Dharmottara followed on the lines of Dignāga and Dharmakīrti, in his Nyāyabinduṭīkā.