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Veer Sagar Jain : A Brief Outline of Jain Nava
characteristics for a middle term to be a hetu. The Jains talk of only one characteristic namely avinābhāva (concomitance) or vyāpti (universal relationship). Inference is of two main types as shown below:
The Jains consider only the proposition (Pratijna) and Reason
Inference / Anumăna
Sādhana/ Hetu Middle term
Vyāpti Universal relation
Sadhya Major term
Self (Svārtha)
Syllogistic (Parārıha)
(Hetu) as the two essential limbs of inference. The other three (Example or illustration (Udāharana), Application (Upanaya) and Statement of conclusion (Nigamana) are used by a teacher for the specific needs of pupils.
Scriptural knowledge or Agama : Cognition of an object based on the serions of an omniscient (Apta) is called Agama. The Jain Naiyāyikas have given extensive details on Āpta which can be summarized as follows:
mokşamārgasva netārum bhettāram karmabhūbhratām. jñātāram visvatattvānam vande tadgunalabdhave.
i.e. Āpta is one who is omniscient, has no flaws / faults and no attachments to any thing and is the preacher of serinons of supreme beneficence to all. In simple and practical terms we can say that a person whose knowledge on a specific subject cannot be questioned or contradicted by anyone and is preaching his knowledge to all for their benefit is Apta of that subject. However, a person who is sleeping or is intoxicated cannot be called an Āptu and his sermons are not classified as Āgama. In fact, sermons of Āpta are Āgama prumāņa. Even though it is like knowledge, however, due to its cause and effect
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