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The Applied Aspect of Anekāntā
Philosophy
– Dr. Nemi Chand Jain
I would like to begin my discourse with this verse (găthā) of Acharya Siddhasen:
jena vinā logassa vi vavahāro savvahā na nivvadai tassa bhuvanekka guruņo namo anegantavāyassa
(My revered salute to the unique Guru æ teacher - Anekantism without whose guidance lokavavahāra- worldly relation- is absolutely impossible or say appears to be an impossibility).
As universally known the doctrine of Syādvād (nonabsolutism) is the keystone of Jaina Nyaya (logic). This principle basically advocates in a very precise manner the nature of vastu or reality. Syādvād/Anekāntavāda & Saptabhangi are almost equivalent terms which tentamount to mean manifoldism or multiplicity of attributes belonging to the vastu under investigation. Syādvāda or saptabhangī or heptagonic doctrine is meant to unfold the multi-dimensional nature of a thing, person or existent (sat) i.e. this principle views an object or subject through seven different folds. It presumes just at the outset that reality (tattva/sat) is multiple and not unitary (one fold). That way this doctrine can be designated as the doctrine of 'may be'. In other words we may name it as kathañcitvād. By kathamcit we mean may be possibly or in relation to.
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