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 372

Direct Knowledge
347
The solidity of matter is divided into four degree of guru (heavy) laghu ( light ), gurulaghu (mixed ) and agurulaghu (neither of the two). The matter with the pature of falling down is known as guru as a stone. That with the nature of upward movements is laghu; as fire. That with side movement is gurulaghu as air; and that which is free from all these categories is agurulaghu. The above division is only a rough estimate. In reality there is no matter which is absolutely guru or absolutely laghu. Everything possesses both the natures more or less degree. Even a stone can move upwards or side-wards when thrown accordingly. In the real aspect there are only two groups; that of gurulaghu and agurulaghu. The first four of the above vargaņās are gurulagbu and the rest are agurulaghu.
The scope of avadhi in respect of substance begins from the cognition of either tejovargaņā or bhāṣāvargaņā. If it starts with tejovargaņā, it is more on the side of gurulaghu. Then, it moves towards the apprehension of grosser objects. When the gurulaghu group is fully apprehended it expands, if further purified, towards the apprehension of agurulaghu group. In case it is not further purified it stops there for some time and then disappears. The avadhi beginning with the cognition of bhāṣāvargaņā is more on the side of agurulaghu. It progresses towards the cognition of finer vargaņās. Having apprehended all the four vargaņās of agurulagbu group, it covers the gurulaghu group also, if further purified. The following table will show how the avadhi develops in the case of substance in proportion to time and space.
Substance
Time
1. Taijasa sarfra
Space Innumerable islands and oceans
do
do
2. Karmaņa sarira 3. Taijasa vargaņā 4. Bhāṣāvargaņā 5. Manovargaņā
Innumerable parts of palyopama
do do
do A numerable part. of palyopama.
do A numerable part of the entire universe.