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holistic understanding of the objective world and subjective world needs to undergo four steps:
1. Dispassionate perception of phenomenal world. 2. Understanding of an object from multi-dimensional
viewpoints. 3. Correct usage of linguistic tools of expression to
avoid ambiguities and inconsistencies. 4. Understanding the intention of the speaker and the
use of words and statements in a certain context.
When one tries to trace out the historicity of linguistic tools used by Jains for knowledge and analysis of the world of affairs, it can be divided under three heads. There are two views regarding this issue. Umāsvāti in his book, Tattvārthasūtra refers to two means of getting knowledge, pramāṇa and naya - pramāṇanairadhigamḥ.' Pramāṇa refers to the apprehension of reality or valid knowledge. Nayd refers to the different aspects of considering things. While explaining . nayas, he said : 'sarvamekam sadviseșāt.”, - that is, all is one because they are sat and have equal existence. In the Sthānārgasūtra, we get sūtras such as these : there is one soul, there is one loka (universe). For compatibility of these sūtras, we have to depend on sangraha naya, this naya regards all soul as one. So, according to it, ‘ege āyā” sūtra can be accepted. Here, it is to be noted that with the help of sangraha naya above-mentioned sūtras can be co-related without crossing the limits of āgama principles. Nayacakra of Māiladhavala considers three means of knowledge namely, pramana, naya and nikshepa as essential for knowing any reality.
Tattvārthasūtra. Umāsvāti, 1.6. 2 Sabhāsya Tattvārthādhigamasūtra, 35, p. 65. 3 Thāņaṁ Sūtra. Ladnun: Jain Vishva Bharati. Vikram Samvat 2033, 1.2, p. 5. 4 Nayacakra of Māiladhavala. Ed. Kailāschandra Shastri. Varanasi: Bhāratīya
Jñānpītha Publication, 1971, p. 102.
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