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 main ground for this contention is this, that a reality must have some purpose to serve. A reality without any utility is inconceivable. The Jainas do not believe in mere existence as the Vedanta does. The object, which is permanent without any change, or which perishes every moment without any continuity, cannot serve any useful purpose. Purposiveness must have action as its pre-requisite necessity; which is not possible both in the conditions of change without permanence or permanence without change. Action means an order of successive stages of the beginning, the middle and the completion. AO absolute permanence cannot have these stages without invitiog some sort of change. Similarly, a thing with absolute change cannot go through these stages, as it cannot last even for two moments, 1
Categories and Realities : The Vais: sikasūtra? describes six categories (padārthas) and three realities 3 (arthas). It distinguishes artha (reality) from padārtha (category) in this, that the former inheres existence in it and the latter does not. 4 The artha has an external existence and can be perceived through senses or yogic perception.5 On the other hand the categories are conceptual. They are the analytic interpretations of external and internal phenomena. The Nyāyasülra admits sixteen categories; 6 whose knowledge leads to the highest good. Vātsyāyana? divides reality into the four epistemological types of pramāņa (source of knowledge), pramātā (cognizer), prameya (object) and pramiti (cognition). It means that the question of reality is related with epistemology while that of category with the spiritual progress. The Jaina also admits the two types as 1. Syāuvādamañjari K.5 2. Vaišeşikasūtra 1.1.4 3. Ibid., 8.2.3; Vaisasikabhāsya 8.2.3 4. Vaiśesikasūtra 1.2.7; Kärikāvali, 14-15 5. Dinakari p. 40 6. Nyāyasūtra 1.1.1 7. Vātsyāyanabhāşya