Abstract
This paper examines the hypothetical concept of Anvadhana Sangraha (Skt. anv-ādhāna = “successive/connected placing” + saṅgraha = “collection/comprehension”). We interpret it as a meta-epistemic principle concerning the accumulation of latent impressions (vāsanā) through repeated intentional acts, bridging the Sautrāntika and Yogācāra Buddhist theories of memory and continuity without a permanent self. The term is analyzed grammatically, epistemologically, and in comparison with anvaya-vyatireka (method of agreement and difference).
Anvadhana Sangraha — literally “collection of concordances” — is a scholarly compilation that organizes and cross-references important words, themes, or passages from a corpus of texts to make study, comparison, and retrieval easier. Although the exact scope and language of a specific "Anvadhana Sangraha" can vary, the following overview describes the typical purpose, structure, and uses of such a work and offers guidance for creating one. anvadhana sangraha
In Indian philosophy, the problem of memory (smṛti) without a permanent substrate is acute. The Sautrāntika school proposed anvayādhāra (a successive causal continuum) while Yogācāra introduced the ālayavijñāna (storehouse consciousness). Anvadhana Sangraha—if historical—would denote the process by which discrete moments of cognition “gather” (saṅgraha) through successive layering (anvadhāna), forming a coherent experiential stream. Abstract This paper examines the hypothetical concept of
Unlike violent sins, Anvadhana Sangraha often masquerades as virtue. Caring for one’s family home, preserving ancestral heirlooms, or managing a business responsibly—these involve mental hoarding. While they generate punya (merit) due to non-violence, they still bind the soul to the cycle of birth and death (samsara). The goal of Jainism is not heavenly reward but liberation (moksha), which requires cutting even meritorious attachments. In Indian philosophy, the problem of memory (
The Shravaka (lay follower) progressively reduces possessions to a countable limit. For example, limiting clothing to a specific number. The key is not the number, but the mental discipline of not thinking about the items beyond their utility.
Thus, Anvādhāna Saṅgraha is the philosophical and procedural doctrine concerning how a set of secondary, preparatory, or ancillary rituals are collectively compiled and integrated into a primary sacrifice. It is not a single act but a hermeneutic framework for grouping multiple subordinate rites under the authority of one principal injunction.
The investigation highlights the importance of the Avadhana Tradition in South India, particularly regarding the requested term.