Jaina Concept of Omniscience

SR No.: 001547
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ramjee Singh
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 258
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Knowledge
File Size: 17 MB

Page 82

THË JAINA THEORY OF OMNISCENCE : CHRONOLOGY 69
of omniscience, In the pre-canonical period, which has been presented mostly through legendary history, the omniscience of Mahāvīra was accepted as indisputable. This legendary history has been generally presented in latter times in the different Jaina Purānas e.g. Padma of Ravisena, Harivamsa and Ādi of Jina Sena, Uttara of Gunabhadra etc.
In the old Jaina literature, I find discussion of Kevala Jñāna in Acārārga, 80 Uttarādhyayana, 8 1 Kaşāya Pāhuda (Jaya dhavalā),82 Prajñāpanā,83 Rājapraśnīya,84 Bhagavati,85 Mahābandha (Mahādhavalā),56 Sthānānga, 57 Avaśyaka Niryukti, 88 Anuyogadvāra,89 etc.90 But we find here only stray remarks and no systematic account. For Umāsvāmi and Kundakunda, omniscience was a religious dogma and a religious heritage. Umāsyāmi, in his Tattvārtha Sūtra91 defines omniscience as the “simultaneous knowledge of all substances with all their modes." Kundakunda's 'Pravacana Sāra, 92 Pañcâstikāya Sāra, 93 Samaya Sāra,94 Niyama Sāra,95 Aşta Pāhuda’96 etc. refer to this conception of omniscience of which Pravacana Sāra takes special note.
The philosophical approach of the problem of omniscience begins with Samantabhadra. In his Āpta Mimāṁsā,?? he introduces inferential reasoning in support of omniscience. His
80 I. 3.4; II. 3.
85 1. 9.76; XVIII. 81 XXIII; X; V.1-32.
86 Vol. II, pp. 22–24. 82 Vol.I, pp. 21, 43, 46, 64-5.
87 II. 1.71. 83 29, 30.
88 Gäthā 127 etc. 84 165.
89 V. 5.81-82 90 Satkhadnāgama, 1.1.21-23 (of Puspadanta & Bhatabali with Dhavala
of Virasena, V. 5.81) 91 I. 29
95 158, 159, 160-65. 92 I. 28-31; I. 48; II. 105, etc.
96 I. 10-20. 93 28,29.
97 5,6. 94 Ch. I, X. 403.