Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c6.s5.t14.4

c6.s5.t14.4

Jayarāśi proclaimed himself as a follower of Bṛhaspati, but he even demolished the very first aphorism of his mentor, which says that there are only four elements — the earth, the waters, the fire and the wind. Offering justification for this overruling, Jayarāśi said that Bṛhaspati actually did not propose the existence of these four elements; he was just referring to the popular belief.¹³¹ With a gusto, Jayarāśi prided in himself claiming that the varieties of thoughts occurring to him that eradicate the arrogance of the hypocrites, were unforeseen even by Bṛhaspati, the teacher of the gods.¹³²