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

Page 266

Indirect Knowledge
241
of the element holding the same quality, as its specific character, is not based on sound reasoning. The earth possesses the taste, colour, form and touch also along with the smell. The olfactory sense also must, according to the Nyāya contain all these qualities as it is constituted of the earth. In that case, there is no reason why it should sense the smell only and not other qualities. The Nyāya can argue that other qualities, are not its specific qualities, as they are found in other substances also. In that case, the Jaina contends, the elements of air, fire and water would have no specific quality, as they contain nothing which is not found elsewhere. Moreover, the physical elements possess some non-physical qualities also, as that of number, dimension, conjunction etc., but they are not admitted as object of the senses The only explanation for the regulation of objectivity, the Jainas say, is the Kşayopaśama or natural capacity of the senses. Other explanations do not hold any sound basis. Ultimately, one has to resort to the natural capacity.
The Jainas hold the five qualities as sensed naturally by the corresponding five organs. The organ of touch-sense is naturally capable of apprehending the quality of touch. The Jainas maintain eight kinds of touch, viz., hot and cold, soft and hard, viscid and rough, heavy and light. The Nyāya Vaišeşika holds only the temperature sense as related with the touchorgan. He adds to the varieties of hot and cold, a third one of the temperature which is neither hot nor cold (anuşnaśita). The qualities of softness and hardness, according to the Nyāya, are not original but based upon the quality of conjunction (samyoga). If the conjuction of constituting parts is dense the resulting substance will appear as hard. If it is loose the object will appear as soft. The quality of viscidity, according to the Nyāya, is found in the element of water only. Roughness is nothing but its absence. He does ont accept them as the object of touch-organ. The qualities of heaviness and lightness also are not peculiar to the touch-sense. They are inferred through the factors down or its absence. The Buddhist enumer