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Knowledge In Jainism : An Overview
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Somewhere in Jaina canons śrutajnāna is considered as equal to kevalajñāna in some respect. Gommațasāra of Nemicandra says
“In the respect of knowing all the objects śrutajñāna and kevalajñāna are equal, but śrutajñāna is considered as parokșa (indirect) and kevalajñāna is always pratyakşa
(direct). 22
This statement glorifies the significance of śrutajñāna. Kundakunda says
“The person who knows a soul in the pure form with the help of śrutajnāna, is considered as śrutakevalin, by the yogins who illuminate the world with their knowledge.”:23 Avadhijnāna (visual intuition/clairvoyance)
Avadhi is the knowledge of material objects directly emerged through a soul, in a soul, without the help of senseorgans and mind. It is of two types - (i) Bhava-pratyaya (ii) Guņa pratyaya (kşayopaśamanimittaka). Bhavapratyaya avadhijñāna is found by birth. It is accepted in the souls of hell and heaven. Guņapratyaya avadhijñāna is found in human beings and animals. It is attained by austerity, observing vows etc. In an avadhijñāna one can know a very small fraction of a material and he can also know the all material objects of the world. Guņapratyaya avadhijñāna is of six types(i) Anugāmika- It follows the onwer of avadhi even if he
leaves the place of its manifestation. . (ii) Anānugāmika- It does not follow the onwer if he leaves
that particular place where avadhijñāna was experienced.
* Gommatasāra, Jīvakānda, 369 "Samayasāra, 9
