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 129

Theories for the Determination of Meaning : Naya & Niksepa :
(103)
In order to understand the intention of the speaker or to comprehend the denotation of the word as per context, in which it is used, understanding of the concept of niksepais most necessary. For example: seeing a student entering in the class, some one says (Mr.) Rājā has come’. Now the denotation of this statement is different from that of seeing a Rājāentering on a stage during a play. In the first instance, Rājā is the name of the student whereas in the second, Rājāis a character in the play. Even today, in India we use phrases like 'the Mahārāja of Banaras' or 'the Mahārāja of Gwalior, but these expressions do not carry the same sense as what they meant before 1947. Today the phrases have their meanings as per dravya-niksepa. Before 1947, they meant as per bhāva-nikṣepa. The word, king is sometimes the name of a person, sometime it is the name of a character of play. The theory of niksepa emphasises the fact that we must determine the meaning of word according to the context in which the word is spoken or used in a sentence. Otherwise, it may create misunderstandings. The theory of niksepa is the theory of correct determination of the meaning of a word. It is specially a Jaina contribution. References: 1. (a) Vakturbhiprāyaḥ nayaḥ, Syādvādmañjarī p. 243(b) Laghiyastrayi- verse 55
Jävaiyāvayanapahā, tāvaiya honti nayavāyā, Sanmati-tarka, 3/47. 3. Catvāro’rthāśrayāḥ seșāstrayaṁ śabdataḥ, Siddhivinścaya- 72
Sankalpamātragrähi Naigamah, Sarvärthasiddhi -1/33 Sāmānyamätragrāhi parāmarśah samgraha, Jainatarkabhāsā, Naya pariccheda, p.60 Ibid. p. 61 Ibid. - 61
Ibid.- 61 9. Ibid. - 62 10. Ibid. -62 11. Ibid. p. 63 12. Laghiyastrayi-772 13. Tattvārtha-sūtra- p.6 14. Ibid.- 1/1 15. Ibid. p.68 16. Ibid.-p.63 17. Ibid.-64 18. Tattvärtha-sūtra-p.7