Comparative Study of Indian Science

Author(s): Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: C S Mallinath

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13. Naya. Literally, Naya means 'a way.' In the Jaina system of thought, the word, however, has a technical meaning and means "analytical knowledge' or 'knowledge of particularity,' as distinguished from the Pramana which is ‘synthetic knowledge.' If the Pramana consists in aggregation and generalisation, the Naya consists in specification and division. If the object of the former is a thing or phenomenon or idea in its unity and totality, that of the latter would be that in its multiplicity and individuality. It seems, the Pramana attaches, the Naya detaches.
The Jaina writers true to their doctrine of the Syadvada are fond of asserting that the Pramana and the Naya are neither absolutely similar to nor absolutely different from each other. The Pramana and the Naya are related as the Sea and a part of the Sea which are neither identical with nor absolutely different from each other. The analytical and the synthetical characters of the Naya and the Pramana may be illustrated by a reference to the interpretation of a judgment Let us have the Judgment, A is B and let us suppose that A has the aspects or qualities of B, C, D and E. The question is, What does the Judgment 'A is B' signify? The Jaina thinkers say that the Judgment is either (i) Sakaladesa-Svabhava or