Reals on the Jaina Metaphysics

SR No.: 001619
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: Shatnidas Khetsy Charitable Trust Mumbai
Publication Year: 1966
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, Religion, & Epistemology
File Size: 8 MB

Page 320

Soui
305
So, these are the three types of the Naigama which consists in describing a thing not in and through its essential nature but by presenting it through some phenomena, external to it. The Naigama Naya may thus be said to be approaching its object but not yet touching it. It gives an explanation from the out-side and does not hold out any of its essential and actual features. The next type of Naya looks the phenomenon in the face and picks out and emphasises one of its essential aspects.
(2) The Samgraha: This Naya consists in viewing a thing from the standpoint of its class or species. When in considering the nature of a thing, we shut our eyes to the peculiarities and look only to the attributes which it has in common with the other members of the class, we have the Sarngraha or the Collective view. This Naya authorises us to call an individual thing by the name of its class.
(3) The Vyavahāra: This is the counterpart of the preceding Naya. It consists in emphasising the peculiar and distinguishing features of an individual thing, ignoring for the time being the class-essence or the universal, which is immanent.
(4) The Rju-Sūtra: This mode of the Naya limits the extent of its subject-matter still further and consists in understanding a thing in and through its present state only.
(5) The Sabda: This Naya and the following two Nayas deal with the significance of a word. What meaning is to be attached to a word? The three Naya's give three answers, each Naya restricting the meaning more and more than its preceding one. The Sabda Naya attributes the widest possible meaning to a word. According to it, synonyms mean the same thing and refer to one and the same object, - although the synonyms may differ in gender, number etc.
(6) The Samabhirudha: This Naya limits the meaning of a word and holds that the significances of the so-called synonyms are different and need not refer to one and the same object. If we attend to the derivations of words, we shall find out such differences in the significations of synonyms.
20