History and Texts: Gautama, Vatsyayana, Udayana, Gangesha, Navya-Nyaya
Textual lineage
The Nyaya Sutra of Akshapada Gautama is the root text. Vatsyayana's Nyayabhashya is the earliest surviving commentary; Udyotakara's Nyayavarttika defends it, and Vacaspati Misra's Tatparyatika comments on Udyotakara. Udayana's Nyayakusumanjali and Atmatattvaviveka are major later works. Gangesha's Tattvacintamani founded Navya-Nyaya, the new logic, with a technical Sanskrit vocabulary. The commentary tradition matters because Nyaya doctrines are often stated in sutra form and clarified through objections.
What the exam tests
- Gautama: sutra, sixteen padarthas, four pramanas.
- Vatsyayana: bhasya, clarification of sutra terms.
- Udayana: theistic proofs, especially in Nyayakusumanjali.
- Gangesha: Navya-Nyaya, Tattvacintamani, refined logic and epistemology.
- Later Navya-Nyaya: Raghunatha Siromani, Jagadisha Tarkalankara, Gadadhara Bhattacharya.
Worked example
A question asks who systematized Navya-Nyaya. The reasoning is: the Nyaya Sutra is early; Vatsyayana comments; Udayana precedes Navya-Nyaya; Gangesha's Tattvacintamani marks the new school. Therefore the answer is Gangesha, not Gautama or Vatsyayana.
Traps
Do not attribute the Tattvacintamani to Gautama. Do not put Udayana after Gangesha. Do not treat Navya-Nyaya as a separate darshana; it is a method within Nyaya. Do not confuse Vatsyayana with the author of the sutras.