Jaina Epistemology

SR No.: 006738
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1990
Total Pages: 516
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

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Epistemology of Jainas
The Jaina view fully expiained Soul or Jiva
Amongst the Âgamas the soul is knows as jiva. Literally it means one that porsesses life, prāna.1 The term prāņa is not confined to breathing only. It includes all the faculties that are the sign of life. The five senses, the faculties of thinking, speaking and moving; breathing and the period for which a being is going to live, all constitute one prāņa each. The mundane souls possess the prānas according to the status of their evolution. But, the term jiva is not to be taken in that sense for the present. It is a general term applied to all the states of soul, liberated or in bondage.
Definition of Jiva
The Bhagavaty and Uttaradhyayana4 sūtras state Upayoga as the definition of jiva. Tattvārthas also supports the same view. Upayoga means attention or application of consciousness (caitanya); which is the essence (svatatva) of Jiva. 6 Vidyānanda points out the difference between essence and definition (laksana) in this, that the essence is a definition as well as the definee. It occupies both the positions; while mere definition is not necessarily given that position. The consciousness itself is jiva. It is a power, known through application only. Upayoga, therefore, serves as definition better than consciousness. The separate existence of jiva is proved on the ground of Upayoga or the function of consciousness.
1. Tattvärthaślokavārtika 318. 2. Gommatasära Gathā 129-30. 3. Bhagavatt II, 10 4. Uttarādhyayana 28, 10 5. Tattvārtha 2.8. 6. Tattvärthaślokavārtika p. 318 7. Ibid.