Bhagavana Mahavira and his Relevance in Modern Times

Author(s): Narendra Bhanavat, Prem Suman Jain, V P Bhatt
Publisher: Akhil Bharat Varshiya Sadhumargi Jain Sangh

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Mahāvīra and His Relevance
other than consecutive togetherness : it implies saharpaņa or co-oresentation, which amounts to non-distinction or indeterminate distinction of being and negation.”8
(v) The fifth predication is formulated as Syād Asti Avktavyam. From the point of view of its own contexts-(dravya, rūpa, kāla and kşetra) a thing is and is indescribable. It asserts the co-presence of the two attributes, existence and inexpressibility.
(vi) Syād Nāsti Avktavyam the sixth proposition expresses the negative aspect together with inexpressibility. In a context, it is not and is indescribable. In relation to the para dravya, para rūpa, para kşetra and para kāla it is not : it is indescribable.
(vii) Syād Asti Nāsti Avaktavyam is the seventh predication. It asserts existence, non-existence and inexpressibility. This predication gives a fuller and a more comprehensive picture of the thing than the earlier ones. The predicated attribute is a synthesis of the three attributes; still, it is not a more summation of the attributes. It brings out the inexpressibility of a thing as well as what it is and what it is not.9
IV. The theory of seven fold predication has been subjected to severe criticism from different quarters. From Samkara, Rāmānuja to modern thinkers like Belvalkar, Syādvāda has been severely criticised, Belvalkar says that syādvāda is sceptical and non-commital in its attitude. With this agnostic and negative attitude "one cannot have any dogma; and Sarkarācārya lays his finger accurately on the weakest point in the system when he says—'As thus the means of knowledge, the knowing subject, and the act of knowledge, are all alike, indefinite, how can the Tirthařkara (Jaina) teach with any claim to authority ?10 Prof. Hiriyanna makes Syādvāda a variety of scepticism. But it may be said that the conditions of doubt are not present in this assertion. Doubt presents lack of determination between the specific festures of the object. But in the case of the sevenfold predication the attributes of existence and non-existence are each defined by their specific determination.
Samkara points out the intrinsic impossibility of the predications of affirmation and negation because of the inherent contradiction involved in it. It violates the law of contradication. But if we take into consideration the different contexts referred to, contradic
tions can be reconciled.