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Encyclopaedia of Jainism
Anekanta
Dr. Nathmal Tatia
1. Introductory. The concept of anekānta occupies a central position in Jaina philosophy. Although it is not possible exactly to determine the date of its origin, there is no doubt that the ontology of early Jainism was deeply influenced by this principle. Originally an ethical mode of speech, being concerned with what one ought or ought not to speak, it assumed an ontological role in the Ardhamāgadhi Āgamas, through three stages of development, viz. vibhajyavāda (the method of answering a question by dividing the issues), nayavāda (the method of defining the framework of reference), and syādvāda (the prefixing of the particle syāt, meaning 'in a certain reference', to a preposition, indicative of its conditional character). The anuyogadvāras (doors of disquisition) also played a vital role in this matter. This ontogical orientation was further strengthened by Umāsvāti, Siddhasena Divākara and Mallavādin, and the concept was converted into a full-grown dialectic by Samantabhadra with whom the classical period of the doctrine begins. The ontological concept now acquires a logic-epistemological character, and Jain philosophy is now indentified with anekāntavāda (the doctrine of non-absolutism) or syādvāda (the doctrine of conditional statement) or saptabhangi (the dialectic of sevenfold predication). Anekānta as the negation of an absolutistic position or the rejection of a biased or truncated view of things is found in the Buddhist, Yoga and Nyāya schools as well in various contexts. A dispassionate assessment of the worth of a philosophy from various viewpoints was the objective that the propounders of anekānta set before themselves. And their efforts in that respect were laudable in that they succeeded in preserving some of the most valueable non-Jaina doctrines as well as texts, selected by them for critical comments, which were otherwise ravished from the world by the cruel hands of destiny.
2. The Origin : Jainism primarily is an ethical discipline, and as such all its tenets had a beginning in someone or other of the moral principles upheld by it. Thus the assertion or denial, afirmation or negation of a philosophical belief was to be carefully made in consonance with the rules prescribed for the right way of speaking in order to avoid
Vol. IV, Nos. 7-8
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| SR No. | 524517 |
| Book Title | Tulsi Prajna 1979 02 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Nathmal Tatia |
| Publisher | Jain Vishva Bharati |
| Publication Year | 1979 |
| Total Pages | 246 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Classification | Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India |
| File Size | 12 MB |