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
avadhi in its three degrees of minimum, maximum and the middle. We have also known the proportional expansion of the two. Now, we come to the scope of avadhi in respect of substance. It has been already stated that matter (pudgala) is the only substance that can be cognized by avadbi. Its molecules are divided into the following eight classes known as varganās: 1. Audārika vargaņā – The molecules forming the parts of
gross bodies (audārika sarira). 2. Vaikreyaka vargaņā — Those forming the parts of fluid
body (vaikriya sarfra) 3. Ahāraka varganā - Those forming the parts of astral
body (ābārakasarıra) 4. Taijasa varaganā – Those forming the parts of firy
body (Taijasa sarfra) 5. Bbāsā vargaņā - Those constituting the parts of
sound. 6. Āņaprāņa vargaņā — The molecules of respiration 7. Manovargaņā- The molecules of mind. 8. Kārmaņavargaņā- Molecules of karmans.
All the atoms occupying single space-units constitute one vargaņā. All molecules occupying two space-units constitute the second varganā and so on ad infinitum. This constitutes an infinite number of varganās. The molecules upto a certain grade are not fit for constitution of a gross body. After than there comes a number of fit molecules. Again they are unfit. When the number of atoms is further increased, the molecules become fit for the fluid body. Further increment makes them fit for astral body. This process goes on upto the karmavargaņā. The number of atoms increases in the higher and higher vargaņās but the grossness decreases. Vaikreyaka varganā is finer than the audārikavargaņā. Ābāraka vargaņā is still finer. Karmavargaṇā is the finest. 1. Višeşiāvasyakabhāsya G. 631.