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NandiSootra
Avaya - The perfect knowledge of things from all angles is called avaya. Buddhi - When the perfection is with greater clarity it is called buddhi. Vijnana - To acquire specialized perfection of knowledge is called vijnana.
These five names of avaya or ascertained knowledge are in fact five levels where the clarity and perfection of knowledge gradually increases. With the help of buddhi and vijnana the perfect and irrefutable knowledge of things is made possible.
DHARANA [118] MEANING - Question - What is this dharana?
Answer - Dharana is said to be of six types-(1) Shrotrendriya dharana, (2)Chakshurindria dharana (3) Ghranendriya dharana, (4) Jihvendriya dharana, (5) sparshanendriya dharana, (6) No-indriya dharana.
It has five names having one meaning, many inflections, and.many consonants-1) Dharana, 2) Sadharana, 3) Sthapana, 4) Pratishtha, and 5) Koshth.
This concludes the description of dharana.
COMMENTARY -The said six types of dharama, like those of arthavagrah, are based on the sense organs. The five paryayantar names are as follows
Dharana - It is the memory that surfaces with proper coincidence after a minimum period of antarmuhurt (less than 48 minutes) and a maximum of uncountable period of time.
Sadharana - It is to retain in memory, without forgetting, the absorbed meaning or information for antarmuhurt (less than 48 minutes).
Sthapana - It is to put to memory the ascertained information. This is also known as vasana or samsakar.
Pratishthai is to put into memory the information with divisions and subdi Visions known through avaya.
Koshth - It is to keep the text and its meaning safe and secure into memory. Koshth means a bin or vault, and things like grain kept in them remains safe.
The sequence of acquisition and gradual development of knowledge has been explained in the form of avagrah, avaya etc. Although the subject is the same, its clarity gradually increases. These levels of clarity have been given different names for a better understanding.
THE DURATION
[119] MEANING -(1) the duration of avagrah is only one samaya. (2) Theduration of iha is antarmuhurt (less than 48 minutes). (3) Theduration of avaya is antarmuhurt (less than 48 minutes).(4) The duration of dharana is both countable and uncountableperiod of time.
COMMENTARY -The first level of knowledge (acquiring of -) isavagrah. It lasts only for one samaya and then turns into iha. Theduration of iha is antarmuhurt (less than 48 minutes) after which itdevelops into avaya which also lasts for antarmuhurt (less than 48minutes). Now if attention or indulgence in it continues it is calledavichyuti dharana (irreversible reception) and not avaya. Dependingon the age of the being dharana can last for countable or uncountableperiod of time. In other words if the life span of a sentient being iscountable years the duration of dharana is also countable years. Thisavichyuti dharana strengthens vacana.
VYANJANAVAGRAH EXAMPLE OF THE CALLER
Aagam- 44 -NandiSootra
Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
