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In reply Nandi Sutra gives an analogy of the sun and clouds. When the sun is covered by clouds, its light is obstructed. If the clouds are dense there is greater obstruction. Sunlight is reduced in the portion obstructed by clouds. In the same way the soul has infinite potency of knowledge but the denseness of deluding karmas and knowledge obstructing karmas veils the light of knowledge in the proportion it obstructs. There is a difference in the potency of knowledge depending on the ratio of destructioncum-suppression of karmas.
The completely unveiled infinite knowledge of soul is called keval-jnana. But as long as that sun of light does not scintillate with all its radiance the process of acquiring mati-jnana and shrut-jnana through kshayopasham (destruction-cumsuppression) of mati-jnanavarana (sensory-knowledge obscuring) and shrut-jnanavarana (scriptural-knowledge obscuring) karmas respectively continues. For this reason five categories of knowledge have been defined although fundamentally it is singular.
The commentator (Churni) has raised another question that when the theme of the book is only shrut-jnana, why the book starts with a description of five kinds of knowledge ? He himself suggests the answer-In order to pacify the source of impediments while commencing a work, first of all an auspicious verse or word or symbol is written or uttered or placed. For example 'Namo Arihantanam' is recited at the beginning. Knowledge is the destroyer of all karmas. As it is the source of bliss, it is auspicious. Therefore, considering knowledge to be auspicious its five categories have been stated at the beginning. DEFINITIONS OF FIVE KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE
(1) Abhinibodhik-jnana or Mati-jnana (Sensory knowledge)-The knowledge acquired by means of five sense organs and the mind in the form of wisdom, perception and experience is called abhinibodhik-jnana. It is popularly known as mati-jnana. अनुयोगद्वार सूत्र
Illustrated Anuyogadvar Sutra
M2
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