The Indian tradition of semantic elucidation known as nirvacana analysis represented a powerful hermeneutic tool in the exegesis and transmission of authoritative scripture. Nevertheless, it has all too frequently been dismissed by modern scholars as anything from folk-etymology to a primitive forerunner of historical linguistics. Eivind Kahrs argues that such views fall short of explaining both its acceptance within the sophisticated grammatical tradition of vyakarana and its effective usage in the processing of Sanskrit texts. He establishes his argument by investigating the learned Sanskrit literature of Saiva Kashmir and explains the nirvacana tradition in the light of a model substitution, used at least since the time of the Upanisads and later refined in the technical literatures of grammar and ritual. According to this model, a substitute (adesa) takes the place (sthana) of the original placeholder (sthanin). On the basis of a searching analysis of Sanskrit texts, the author argues that this sthana 'place' can be interpreted as 'meaning', the model thereby providing favourable circumstances for reinterpretation and change.

The author defends a conception of language as essentially a means for the reception of knowledge through testimony. He finds this account in the work of classical Indian philosophers of language, and presents a detailed analysis of their theories.

Kaun&ddotu;abhatta's Vaiyakarana-bhusana is a massive work on semantic theory written in India in the 17th century. Kaun&ddotu;abhatta belonged to the tradition of Sanskrit grammar and in this work he consolidated the philosophy of language developed in the Paninian tradition of Sanskrit grammar. Kaun&ddotu;abhatta's work takes account of the philosophical debate which occurred in classical and medieval India among the philosophers and grammarians from about 500 B.C. to the 17th century A.D. Kaun&ddotu;abhatta's work primarily represents this debate between the traditions of Sanskrit grammar, Mi&mdotu;amsa, and Nyaya-Vaisesika. It discusses ontological, epistemological, and exegetical issues concerning the notion of meaning as it relates to the various components of language. The present book is a heavily annotated translation of the Namartha-nirnaya section of Kaun&ddotu;abhatta's Vaiyakarana-bhusana, with an extensive introduction. While there are several books that discuss Indian semantic theories in general terms, this book belongs to a small class of intensive, focused studies of densely written philosophical texts which examines each argument in its historical and philosophical context. It is of interest to all students of philosophy of language in general, and to students of Indian philosophy in particular.

Theories of meaning according to various schools of Indic philosophy.

In this book, Phillips gives an overview of the contribution of Nyaya--the classical Indian school that defends an externalist position about knowledge as well as an internalist position about justification. Nyaya literature extends almost two thousand years and comprises hundreds of texts, and in this book, Phillips presents a useful overview of the under-studied system of thought. For the philosopher rather than the scholar of Sanskrit, the book makes a whole range of Nyaya positions and arguments accessible to students of epistemology who are unfamiliar with classical Indian systems.

An accessible introduction to ancient Indian linguistics, this book assesses the impact of Indian linguistic thought on Western linguistics.

This original work focuses on the rational principles of Indian philosophical theory, rather than the mysticism more usually associated with it. Ganeri explores the philosophical projects of a number of major Indian philosophers and looks into the methods of rational inquiry deployed within these projects. In so doing, he illuminates a network of mutual reference, criticism, influence and response, in which reason is used to call itself into question. This fresh perspective on classical Indian thought unravels new philosophical paradigms, and points towards new applications for the concept of reason.