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discussions about Shrut jnana (scriptural knowledge) and five kinds of conduct in the form of avashyak (essential duties) along with darshan (perception). However, as all these are presented as instruments for refining darshan (perception) into samyak darshan (right perception), darshan is considered to be its central theme. MEANING OF ANUYOGA
To understand Anuyogadvar Sutra, the first essential step is to understand the meaning of the term anuyoga. To associate (yoga) the intended and appropriate meaning (anu) with a word is called Anuyoga. The concepts (arth) are given by Arihant Bhagavan. The concepts given by Arihants or Tirthankars or the scriptures in lingual form should be studied and understood only after associating them with pertinent and appropriate meaning. One word has many meanings, that is why to contemplate that for what purpose, from which viewpoint and with reference to which attribution a specific word has been used, and then to arrive at the appropriate meaning is called anuyoga (disquisition). As the acharyas have said—“To associate (yoga) the intended and prescribed meaning (anu) with the concept of an aphorism is anuyoga. (In other words to elaborate an aphorism in consonance with the concept of the writer is anuyoga.)" (Acharya Jinabhadragani)
In the text of Anuyogadvar Sutra nothing much has been said about the word Anuyoga. However, famous commentators of scriptures, including Acharya Jinabhadra Gani (the author of the Bhashyas) and Acharya Hemchandra (the author of the Vrittis), have presented detailed discussion on the word 'anuyoga' in their commentaries. They have explained why this work has been titled Anuyogadvar. A simple illustrative meaning of Anuyogadvar is-the gate (dvar) to enter, search, and arrive at the desired part of the knowledge of fundamentals in the great city called Jain order (canon). If we consider Shaastra (scripture) to be a great city, Anuyogadvar is the name of its entrance. The non-absolutist (anekant-vadi) approach, with emphasis on multiple perspectives (naya) and attribution (nikshep), necessary to understand the profound concepts and ideas contained in scriptures is elucidated in Anuyogadvar Sutra.
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