Jaina Philosophy of Language

SR No.: 001601
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 168
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Language
File Size: 10 MB

Page 128

(102) : Jaina Philosophy of Language name to thing or person.' For example, an ugly man may get the name of Sudarśana (the handsome one). While naming a person/object any conventional word, viz. Saraswati, Narayana, Vishnu, Indra, Ravi etc. or any unconventional word, like Tinku, Rinku, Pinku, Monu, Tonu etc. may be given and the word begins to indicate the person/object. Thus, the name given to a person/object is the indicative word, which has no direct relation with its etymological meaning or attribute. It may also be noted that in Nāma-niksepa, no word is synonym because one word denotes one object only.
(2) Sthāpanā-nikṣepa (Representational or Symbolic positing): To attribute any object in any symbol, statue and copy of the same object and to call it in the same name is Sthāpanā-niksepa (symbolic positing). For instance, to call a statue of Jina as Jina or the image of Krşņa as Krşņa is sthāpanā-niksepa. The cost of images, pictures, and the original things make example of Sthāpanā-niksepa. Jainācāryas have recognised two varieties of sthāpanā-niksepa:(i) Tadākāra and (ü) Atadākära-sthāpanāniksepa. When we attribute the name of an object to its copy, which resembles the original, we call it Tadākāra Sthāpanā-nikṣepa. But when we attribute a name of an object to something which does not have resemblance with the original, it is the Atadākara-sthāpanā-niksepa e.g. to call an uncovered piece of stone by the name of some deity or to call the chess pawns by the name of king, queen, etc.16
(3) Dravya-nikṣepa (Substantive positing): Dravya- niksepa is calling a thing by the name of its mode or attribute in which it existed in the past or which may be acquired by it in the future. If we call a person, professor because he was a professor in the past or we call a medical student doctor' because he is likely to become a doctor or we call an exlegislator as 'legislator' -- these will form the examples of dravya-niksepa. We use such language quite often in our everyday life. A container of ghee may be called a container of ghee irrespective of the fact whether presently it actually contains ghee or not."
(4) Bhāva-niksepa (Modal Positing): The meaning of word accomplished by its actual state or act is bhāva-niksepa. For example to call a rich man, as Lakşmīpati (Lord of Laksmī- the goddess of wealth), or to call a person as servant who is actually serving one, or a teacher who is teaching in the class etc. are example of bhāva-nikṣepa. 18