________________
Nandi Sootra
called directly perceive the help of the sense organs knowledge). Avadhi
assistance and which is not dependent on any instrument or equipment including the mind, sense organs, or body is known as Kewal-jnana.
Kewal means pure - The four Kshayopashamik jnanas are all pure but purest of all is Kewal-jnana. The other four jnanas have traces of passions but Kewal-plana is absolutely free of them.
Kewal means complete - The Kshayopashamik jnanas cannot know all possible forms (variations) of a single thing. That complete knowledge which can know all forms of all things is called Kewal-jnana.
Kewal means unlimited - Which is best among all types of knowledge and has no limit, is Kewal-jnana. It has limitless capacity and it is perpetual as well.
Kewal means unveiled - The knowledge which has no veil at all, which is ever eternal and perpetual and which comes with the total extinction of the Jnanavaraniya Karma is Kewal-jnana.
Of these five types of knowledge the first two are indirect and the remaining three are direct.
*DIRECT AND INDIRECT KNOWLEDGE*
. [054] MEANING -The five types of knowledge are divided into two classes. They are - Pratyaksh or direct and Paroksh or indirect.
COMMENTARY The word Aksh means sentient being or soul. The knowledge that is directly acquired by a being or a soul without any outside help is called directly perceived knowledge or pratyaksh jnana (direct-knowledge). And that which is acquired with the help of the sense organs and the mind is called indirectly perceived knowledge or Paroksh jnana (indirect-knowledge). Avadhi-jnana and Manahparyav-jnana are partially direct and Kewal jnana is completely direct.
The sequence - In the five types of knowledge Mati-jnana (sensory knowledge) is mentioned first of all because in right or wrong form it always exists within all worldly beings. Second in order is Shrut-jnana (scriptural knowledge) which with very little effort can be acquired in right or wrong form by every being having Mati-jnana?
Third in order is Avadhi-jnana because it requires special efforts and purity of mind and soul. Acquired by the kshayopasham of the contamination of karma particles this knowledge, like the former two, can have right and wrong manifestations. Fourth in order is Manahparyav-jnana. It requires greater efforts and purity of mind and soul and is related more to thoughts or feelings rather than matter. Therefore it is acquired only by him who has Samyaktva (a specific state of righteousness where right perception and right knowledge start translating into right conduct). Kewal-jnana comes fifth and occupies the highest position. It is acquired only with complete and absolute purity.
CLASSIFICATION OF DIRECT-KNOWLEDGE [055] MEANING - Question - What is this Pratyaksh-jnana?
Answer - Pratyaksh-jnana is said to be of two types-1.Indriya Pratyaksh, and 2. No-indriya Pratyaksh.
COMMENTARY -Instead of giving a direct answer or the definition of Pratyaksh-jnana the author gives names of its types. He uses this style for a more explicit presentation of the subject throughout this work. In the agars many different styles have been used according to the demand of the subject such as - discussing the attributes, the sources, the areas, etc.
Aagam- 44 -Nandi Sootra
27
Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
