Tantrayukti (तन्त्रयुक्तिः)

Tantrayukti (Samskrit : तन्त्रयुक्तिः) means the methodology of composing shastra works. The ancient Indians were widely and rightly known for their assiduous pursuit of knowledge (ज्ञानम्) which is considered to be the most sacred thing in the world. They laid down the rules in construction of a shastra, approaching it in an orderly manner, defining all aspects (lakshanas) of a given subject, referring previous literature about a particular topic, presenting new thoughts and theories thereby establishing a comprehensive methodology of composing and interpreting the shastra which are lately seen in the modern day scientific compositions or treatises.

परिचयः|| Introduction

Samskrit literature abounds with hundreds of treatises pertaining to ancient Bharatiya Vijnana shastras of which more than a dozen books provide us the information detailing how a scientific or methodical structure of a shastra is composed. Every shastra, irrespective of its subject matter, has been built using the principles of methodology of those shastra compositions, of which the teachers and students, the critics who expounded theoretical works on subjects, were required to be familiar with.

All these works, belonging to divergent disciplines, portray the depth of Indian thinkers, who looked at the scientific treatises from all possible angles, critically examined the various conceptual aspects of the scientific works along without neglecting the subtle aspects. The ancient methodology for composing scientific theories have 95 constituents, as given by various scholars, which can be classified under the following heads

• तन्त्रयुक्तयः (tantrayuktayaḥ) ॥ 36 Tantrayuktis
• व्याख्यानि (vyākhyāni) ॥ 15 Vyakhyas
• कल्पनाः (kalpanāḥ) ॥ 7 Kalpanas
• आश्रयानि (āśrayāni)॥ 20 Ashrayas
• ताच्छील्यानि (tācchīlyāni)॥17 Taatchilyas

A brief introduction of the above shastra rachana paddhatis contain various elements of writing and presentation of shastras, and of them the most important, Tantrayukti will be undertaken in this topic. It may be noted that many modern day scholars including those in the West have studied about Tantrayukti in different perspectives.

Etymology

Tantrayukti (तन्त्रयुक्तिः), an uncommon word, yet practically applied by all Bharatiya shastrakaras, includes a set of research tools for the composition of shastras. तन्त्रयुक्तिः is comprised of two words तन्त्र (tantra) and युक्तिः (yukti).

तन्त्रम् || Tantra

The word tantra is derived from the samskrit root or dhatu तनु विस्तारे in the meanings of 'to stretch', to expand, to diffuse, spread. It is also defined as सिद्धान्तः (siddhanta), ओषधिः (Oshadhi), श्रुतिशाखाविशेषः, हेतुः, उभ-यार्थप्रयोजकम् इतिकर्त्तव्यता इति मेदिनी as per Medini kosha.

It is also expressed in the meaning of 'to compose', 'to write' as per The Student's Sanskrit English Dictionary by V. S. Apte. The traditional definition of the word tantra given in Sarvatantra siddhanta padarthalakshana sangraha by Bhikshu Gaurishankarais as follows

तनोति विपुलानर्थान् तत्वमन्त्रसमन्वितान् | त्राणं च कुरुते यस्मात् तन्त्रमित्यभिधीयते ||

Thus tantra is that which holds the diffused elements or the expanse of a subject; it is one in which are interwoven different thoughts and theories concerning a scientific subject.

Tantra can be termed as that which discusses and details subjects and concepts and also that which protects.

Charaka samhita gives the list of synonyms of the word tantra as तत्रायुर्वेदः शाखा विद्या सूत्रं ज्ञानं शास्त्रं लक्षणं तन्त्रमिति... Tantra is used synonymously with Ayurveda, a branch of veda, vidya (education), sutra (aphorism), jnana (knowledge), shastra, lakshana (definition).

Tantra used as a synonym for Shastra (in this context means theory, subject) is that which holds the various aspects of a subject, into which are interwoven different thoughts, objectives, observations and proposals covering the vast expanse of the subject. Many scholars and poets including Mahakavi Kalidasa have used the word tantra to mean 'a scientific work' as mentioned by Prof. W. K. Lele.

युक्तिः || Yukti

Yukti (युक्तिः) is a derivative of the the dhatu युज् in the meaning 'to unite', 'join','to employ' etc. The word yukti is an application, an arrangement, a usage, a means, a device etc. Sharma has offered an explanation of yukti (युक्तिः) as follows

युज्यन्ते सङ्क्ल्प्यन्ते सम्बध्यन्ते परस्परमर्थाः सम्यक्तया प्राकरणिकेऽभिमतेऽर्थे विरोधव्याघातादिदोषमपास्यानया इति युक्तिः | युज् योजने तस्मिन् यक्तिरिति रूपं भवति |

Meaning : Yukti is one that removes the imperfections like impropriety, contradiction from the intended meaning and thoroughly unites the meanings (in writings or compositions).Yuj is used to mean 'to arrange'.

Meaning

तन्त्रस्य युक्तयस्तन्त्रयुक्तयः |

A yukti thus means an inevitable tool, a scientific one, an indispensable device employed in composing a scientific treatise. Tantrayukti, is therefore, a device of the tantra (shastra). Dr. Jayaraman mentions the various terms in which scholars, both Indian and Western have rendered tantrayukti as follows

1. Methodology in Sanskrit texts on Science - K. V. Sharma
2. Forms of scientific argument - S. C. Vidyabhushana
3. Plan of a treatise - Shamasastry
4. Method of treatment, maxims for the interpretation of textual topics - Esther Solomon
5. Formal elements which gave form to a scientific work - Gerhard Obberhammer
6. Methodology of theoretico-scientific treatises in Sanskrit - Dr. W. K. Lele
7. Methodology and technique, which enable one to compose and interpret scientific treatises correctly and intelligently - N. E. Muthuswamy
8. An expedient in the writing of science - Surendranath Mittal

Works such as Charaka Samhita, Sushrutasamhita, Ashtangahrdaya and Arthashastra employed tantrayuktis as devices either for diagnostic purposes or for explanation of technical aspects to understand the texts respectively. Thus we see above from the etymological and conventional usages that Tantra denotes a systematic work of literature (on any subject) and yukti is an aid in the composition of such a work to convey the intended concepts with clarity.

तन्त्रयुक्तिः॥ Tantrayukti

Tantrayukti (तन्त्रयुक्तिः) refers to the methodical elements and devices (Yuktis) of Tantra (theory) that are involved into making of a theory, the structural aspects as well as the interpretation. A treatise is comprised of a large number of paragraphs, chapters, sections, sub-sections, explanations, concepts etc as such a scientific writer is required to use a large number of ways to put forth his concept. Thus we see that there are about 36 such generally accepted tantrayuktis, though different texts propose a varying numbers of such yuktis ranging between 32 to 41.

S.No.	कौटल्य	चरक	सुश्रुत	विष्णुधर्मोत्तरपुराण
1	अधिकरणम्	अधिकरणम्	अधिकरणम्	अधिकरणम्
2	विधानम्	योगः	योगः	योगः
3	योगः	हेत्वर्थः	पदार्थः	पदार्थः
4	पदार्थः	पदार्थः	हेत्वर्थः	हेत्वर्थः
5	हेत्वर्थः	प्रदेशः	उद्धेशः	उद्धेशः
6	उद्धेशः	उद्धेशः	निर्देशः	निर्देशः
7	निर्देशः	निर्देशः	उपदेशः	उपदेशः
8	उपदेशः	वाक्यशेषः	अपदेशः	अपदेशः
9	अपदेशः	प्रयोजनम्	प्रदेशः	प्रदेशः
10	अतिदेशः	उपदेशः	अतिदेशः	अतिदेशः
11	प्रदेशः	अपदेशः	अपवर्जः	अपवर्गः
12	उपमानम्	अतिदेशः	वाक्यशेषः	वाक्यशेषः
13	अर्थापत्तिः	अर्थापत्तिः	अर्थापत्तिः	अर्थापत्तिः
14	संशयः	निर्णयः	विपर्ययः	प्रसङ्गः
15	प्रसङ्गः	प्रसङ्गः	प्रसङ्गः	एकान्तः
16	विपर्ययः	ऐकान्तः	एकान्तः	अनैकान्तः
17	वाक्यशेषः	नैकान्तः	अनेकान्तः	पूर्वपक्षः
18	अनुमतम्	अपवर्गः	पूर्वपक्षः	निर्णयः
19	व्याख्यानम्	विपर्ययः	निर्णयः	विधानम्
20	निर्वचनम्	पूर्वपक्षः	अनुमतम्	विपर्ययः
21	निदर्शनम्	विधानम्	विधानम्	अतिक्रान्तावेक्षणम्
22	अपवर्गः	अनुमतम्	अनागतावेक्षणम्	अनागतावेक्षणम्
23	स्वसंज्ञा	व्याख्यानम्	अतिक्रान्तावेक्षणम्	संशयः
24	पूर्वपक्षः	संशयः	संशयः	अतिव्याख्यानम्
25	उत्तरपक्षः	अतीतावेक्षा	व्याख्यानम्	अनुमतम्
26	एकान्तः	अनागतावेक्षा	स्वसंज्ञा	स्वसंज्ञा
27	अनागतावेक्षणम्	स्वसंज्ञा	निर्वचनम्	निर्वचनम्
28	अतिक्रान्तावेक्षणम्	ऊह्यम्	निदर्शनम्	दृष्टान्तः
29	नियोगः	समुच्चयः	नियोगः	नियोगः
30	विकल्पः	निदर्शनम्	विकल्पः	विकल्पः
31	समुच्चयः	निर्वचनम्	समुच्चयः	समुच्चयः
32	ऊह्यम्	संनियोगः	ऊह्यम्	ऊह्यम्
33	-	विकल्पनम्	-	-
34	-	प्रत्युत्सारः	-	-
35	-	उद्धारः	-	-
36	-	सम्भवः	-	-

Tantrayukti in Literature

All Bharatiya shastras, have been composed based on the tantrayukti system. One can see the application of Tantrayuktis in the composition of scientific literature such as Nyaya, Mimamsa, Vyakarana, Arthashastra, Ayurveda, Alankarashastra and Kamashastra. Such a study of methodological application is relevant to modern day studies, experiments and sciences. Here a few applications of tantrayuktis in ancient shastras is described.

1. Charaka Samhita (Ayurveda) is the first recorded evidence where Tantrayukti is dealt with. A seminal work on Ayurveda, it comprises of eight Sthanas containing 9295 sutras, of which the eighth sthana called as siddhisthana, has enumerated about 36 tantrayuktis as given in the table given above.
2. Sushruta Samhita (Surgical Medicine), a renowned text on Sastrachikitsa (Surgery) composed by Sushruta, has about six sthanas with 8300 sutras in total. Thirtytwo tantrayuktis are detailed in the sixtyfifth adhyaya by Sushruta.
3. Ashtangasangraha (Ayurveda) written by Vagbhata (a second text called Ashtangahrdaya) mentions 36 tantrayuktis in the 50th adhyaya if the Uttarasthana. Ashtangahrdaya also mentions Tantrayuktis.
4. Vishnudarmottara Purana, enumerates 32 tantrayuktis in the sixth adhyaya of the third kanda.
5. Kautilya's Arthashastra (Governance), an oldest available Tantrayukti-s list of 32 devices is from Arthashastra. Kautilya's Arthashastra, an ancient authoritative work on governance, diplomacy, economy, politics and statecraft, defines and illustrates Tantrayuktis in the fifteenth अधिकरणम् (Adhikarana).
6. Tantrayuktivichara by Nilamegha (Ayurveda Practitioner from Kerala), a later day text considers 36 tantrayuktis in detail, based on Vagbhata's exposition.

Role of Tantrayuktis

Charaka aptly summarizes the role of tantrayuktis as follows

यथाऽम्बुजवनस्यार्कः प्रदीपो वेश्मनो यथा ॥ 46

प्रबोध (न) प्रकाशार्थास्तथा तन्त्रस्य युक्तयः । एकस्मिन्नपि यस्येह शास्त्रे लब्दास्पदा मतिः॥ 47

स शास्त्रमन्यदप्याशु युक्तिज्ञत्वात् प्रबुध्यते ।

Meaning : Just as the sun causes a bed of lotuses to blossom, just a a lamp lights up a house, so also the tantrayuktis shed light on the meanings of the scientific subjects. He who