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An Introduction to Jain Philosophy
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and teacher etc. In relation to his son, he is father. Thus, he is a father as related to his son, i.e. relatively he is a father. In this way he has numerous designations. One man has so many qualities, but for different persons in situation. According to Jainism every object of experience is complex, and it can be viewed neither analytically part by part, nor wholly in an integral vision. The first is covered in the doctrine of nayas, the second in that of Syādvāda13
The Anekāntavāda gets expressed through a language which is called the language of 'Syādvāda'. 'Anekānta' is thus an attitude and 'Syādavāda' its manifestation through a specific style of wordutterance. The theory of ‘Syādavāda is also called 'Anekāntavāda', because the relativity of judgment is nothing but a relative judgment about an object that possesses infinite aspects of qualities. In other words the relative judgment is not possible unless the object for which that judgment stands is Anekāntavāda. Hence the judgment that stands for an object possessing many characteristics is also known as Anekāntavāda.
According to Jaina literature, to understand any truth or reality, there can be two different forms. One is to known it fully well and the second to know it up to certain extent. These are known as Pramāņa and Naya. Nayas are divided into two types viz., dravyārthika and paryāyārthika. Dravyārthika naya is of three types, viz., Naigama naya, Samgraha naya, Vyavhāra naya, Paryāyarthika naya, is of four types, viz., sjusutra naya, Subda naya, Samabhirūdha naya and Evambhūta naya. On the same lines, in spiritual discussions, the things could be described both from a practical point of view and from a realistic point of view. Thus when things are described from the practical point of view, it is termed the Vyavhāra-naya; and when things are described from the pure of realistic point of view, it is termed the Niścaya naya.
Naigam naya (universal-particular or teleological point of view) which described things without distinguishing between their general and special properties.
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