Tattvartha Sutra

SR No.: 006796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sukhlal Sanghavi, K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 596
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Tattvartha Sutra, & Tattvarth
File Size: 10 MB

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TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA
The idea is that mati-jñāna and śruta-jñāna are similar as both require the assistance of the sense-organs and manas, but the objective sphere of śruta-jñāna is definitely greater than that of mati-jñāna and it is also characterized by greater clarity. For there being a predominance of mental operation in śruta-jñāna there is also in it a great proportion of reflection and a greater clarity as to this reflection; similarly, there is also in it a proper contextual adjustment of what comes earlier and what comes later. Or in other words it might be said that a prolonged cognitive operation born of the sense-organs and manas has mati-jñāna for its initial immature sector and śruta-jñāna for a later mature and clear sector. Hence it might also be said that the cognition which is capable of being expressed through words is śruta-jñāna while the same insofar as it, being inadequately mature, is incapable of being so expressed is mati-jñāna. Thus if śruta-jñāna stands for a milk preparation mati-jñāna stands for milk.
Question : It has been said that śruta-jñāna is of two types, many types, twelve types. How is that ?
Answer : śruta-jñāna is of two types—viz. anga-bāhya or that excluded from the class of texts called anga and anga-pravista or that included in the class of texts called anga. Of these, the former is of many types depending on whether it is utkālika-that is, that which may be studied at any time—or kālika—that is, that which must be studied at a particular time. And the latter is of twelve types in the form of Ācārānga, Sūtrakstānga etc.
Question : What is the ground for distinguishing the angabāhya from the anga-pravista ?
Answer : The ground is the difference as to the speaker. Thus the knowledge revealed by the tīrtharkaras which was received by their highly intelligent direct disciples designated gañadharas and was given by them the form of the twelve Sūtratexts technically called anga is anga-pravista. On the other hand, the pure-witted masters coming after the ganadharas took into consideration the deficiency in intellect, power and age-limit which is a result of the bad times that are prevalent and hence