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 13

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In the appearances like 'ghaṭaḥ san'; 'pataḥ san' the existence of Brahman as real proves to be the material cause of the world. Similarly, in the expressions like 'idam rūpam', 'ayam rasaḥ', idam rūpamiti jānīte”, ‘ayam rasa itī jānīte' (Nyāya Bhāṣya 1.1.4) the word seems to be inherent hence the material cause of the world.
Na so'sti pratyayo loke yaḥ śabdānugamādṛte/ Anuddhamiva jñānam sarvam sabdena bhasate//
Vakyapadiya 1.123
In the Vedanta it is clearly said - ‘Ātmā vā are draṣṭavyaḥ, śrotavyaḥ, mantavyaḥ (Bṛhadāranyaka Upaniṣad-2.5) i.e. see the atman, hear the atman, contemplate the ātman...but hearing is possible only of the Sabda Brahma' (Eternal Verbum). Therefore, the realisation of the Brahman will be at this lavel only. It is rightly said:
Yadekam prakriyābhedaibahudhā pravibhajyate
Tad vyākaraṇāgamya paraṁ Brahmādhigamyate //
In the open platform of Vedanta, Brahman as one, has appeared in its various roles, but Vedāntins were not able to recognise it. They remained only gazing at it; but as soon as He (the Brahman) entered the grammarian's courtyard, was able to be perceived by their auditory sense. (B) Word defined as Sphota
Vakyapadiya 1.22
Another name of 'Sabda Brahma' is sphota. Shri Mandana Miśra has established the existence of sphota, besides that of letters and terms in the following one sentence:
"Pratyekamapratyāyakatvāt, sahityābhāvāt, niyatakramavartināmayaugapadyena sambhūyakāritvānupaptte tasmād varṇavyatirekim varṇebhyo'sammantarthapratyayaḥ svanimitta-mupakalpayati”
(Sphotasiddhi-p.28).
It means, if we regard letters (A, B, C, etc.) as word, how can then we shall be able to comprehend meaning? Neither the every letter nor the aggregates of the perishable letters are indicator of meaning? The terms 'rasah' or 'sarah' etc. have two letters but their succession makes difference in the meanings. As the aggregates of letters can not give only