Jaina Literature and Philosophy a Critical Approach

SR No.: 001936
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 126
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, Religion, & Literature
File Size: 13 MB

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Aspects of Jainology: Volume VI
accepted in Upanisadas and Buddhism. So far as Jainism is concerned it is in the Bhagavatisūtra where for the first time these different ways of expressions (Bhangas) are found. In Bhagavatisūtra (9/5) while dealing with the concept of Hell, Heaven and abode of Siddhas, Lord Mahavira mentioned only three ways of expression, i. e., affirmation, negation and inexpressibility but while dealing with the aggregates of the different numbers of atom, he mentioned more than twenty-three ways of expressions. Pt. Dalsukha Malvania is right when he says that of course we have seven predications or Saptabhangi in Bhagavatisūtra, but in my humble opinion these different ways of expressions (Bhangas) do not represent the doctrine of seven-fold predications rather it is only a prior state. Here, these ways of expressions are framed on the number of atoms in aggregates. Secondly, this discussion may be a later interpolation because in Tattvärthasutra and its auto-commentary, this concept ( )
of seven-fold predication is absent. Thirdly, it is also clear that neither in Bhagavatisutra nor in the Tattvärthasūtra and it's auto-commentary, the theory of seven-fold predication is systematically presented in its logical form, with number of predications as seven and only seven. For the first time in Siddhasena Divakara's Sanmatitarka, this theory of seven-fold predication is logically presented. After that in Aptamimamsa of Samantabhadra ( c. 5th ), Sarvärthasiddhi of Pujyapada (c. 6th), Pañcāstikāya (14) and Pravacanasara (2/23 ) of Kundakunda (c. 6th A. D.) and some other later works of this period this doctrine of seven-fold conditional predication has been discussed in detail. In general, there are only three types of our linguistic expression - affirmation, negation and inexpressibility. On the basis of these three fundamental ways of linguistic expressions and their combinations mathematically only seven predications are possible neither more nor less. In order to show the conditionality or relativity of these seven-fold predi
cations Jaina ācāryas put a qualifying mark before each of the predication / statement, so that the affirmation or negation or even in-expressibility of predication may not be taken as absolute. This qualifying mark is the word 'Syat' (), which being put before every predication, removes the every possibility of uncertainity and indefiniteness of the predication and make the predication conditional as well as relative. The seven-fold conditional predications are as follows:
1. Conditional affirmation ( R) 2. Conditional negation (k) 3. Conditional inexpressibility (3) 4. Conditional affirmation and negation respectively ( स्यात् अस्ति च नास्ति च )
5. Conditional affirmation and inexpressibility ( स्यात् अस्ति च अवक्तव्यं च )
6. Conditional negation and inexpressibility
7. Conditional affirmation, negation and inexpressibility ( स्यात् अस्ति च नास्ति च अवक्तव्यं च )
It is noteworthy that for Jainas inexpressibility (anirvacaniyatā or avyaktavyata ) does not denote absolute inexpressibility as Vedanta means. It is only conditional inexpressibility because simultaneous affirmation and negation are not possible in our linguistic expressions.
The Jaina doctrines of non-absolutism, conditional predication and view-points yielded good results particularly in that age of philosophical disputation as well as religious and social conflicts. Though the Jaina thinkers made optical estimation of the philosophical assumptions of other schools of thought yet they paid proper respect to them and accepted their Truth value on the basis of different Nayas. In this regard the views of Siddhasena Divakara and Haribhadra are commendable. Siddhasena tried to establish the truth value of other schools of thought on different view-points. He said Sankhya school is