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146 : Scientific Contents in Prākrta Canons
definitional basis. Accordingly, it has been defined in three ways leading to same meaning.
Firstly, a reality may be defined as that which has some general and some special attributes. It can not exist without these attributes. The general attributes are called common properties, existential similarities, qualities, tiryak-sāmānya, coexisting and natural properties. The other types of attributes are called distinctive, specific, višeşa, ürdhvatā sāmānya, svarūpa-astitva, paryāyas or modes. They may be co-existing or consecutive.
Akalanka' and Devasena have mentioned 8-11 genera! attributes of reality shown in Table 3. It is clear that Devasena has better clarity in this respect where only eight of Akalanka's attributes fit in five of Devasena. He has not only repeatitive properties of 2-3 and 4-5, but it also has a gross discrepancy of omitting perceptibility attribute altogether and mentioning only upward motion rather than general one as an attribute. Table 3 : General Attributes of Reality. Akalanka ( 11 )
Devasena ( 8 )
1. Existence
1. Existence ( Permanence ) 2. Particulate nature 2. Particulate nature 3. Non-pervasiveness 4. Modifiability
3. Changeability 5. Bonding with modes 6. Permanence or eternality 7. Motion upwards 4. Motion or action ( Functionality) 8. Non-perceptibility 5. Sense perceptibility or otherwise 9. Actorship ( Kartā ) 10. Enjoyer (Bhoktā ) 11. Differentiation
6. Knowledgeability (prameyatva ) 7. Weightlessness ( Individuality ) 8. Livingness or otherwise
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