The Sanjaya Myth: Sanjaya Belatthiputta and the Catuskoti

Abstract: Respected scholars regard pre-Buddhist philosopher Sañjaya Belaṭṭhiputta as originator of the catuṣkoṭi and catuṣkoṭi vinirmukta. We argue that the early texts do not support this view; the question of the origin of these argument-forms is open. While the Sāmaññaphala Sutta and some of its parallels portray Sañjaya as deploying the catuṣkoṭi, nothing in these passages suggests he was its originator. The situation concerning the catuṣkoṭi vinirmukta is even more surprising: There is nothing in the early Pāli texts and their parallels—nor in Buddhagosa's famous commentary on the early texts—to show that Sañjaya even deployed the catuṣkoṭi vinirmukta, let alone originated it. Our investigations also call into question the standard portrayal of Sañjaya as an obfuscator and prevaricator. He may have been a more interesting and able philosopher than the Sāmaññaphala Sutta, and modern accounts based on it, maintain.