Dravya Sangraha

Author(s): Nemichandramuni
Publisher: Chandraprabha Digambar Jain Mandir Trust

Page 17

Dravya Sangraha
i. e., " Abhinbodhika or Mati, Sruta, Avadhi, Manah-paryaya and Kevala- these are the five varieties of Jnana. Kamati Kusruta and Vibhanga these three also are connected with Jnana.
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The three last-mentioned are nothing but false knowledge of the first three. It will, therefore, be sufficient to explain the first five varieties only of Jnana. Umasvami has also mentioned them in Sutra 9, Chapter 1 of Tattvarthadhigma Sutra. (c. g., zfayalafùna: quåkanfà It should be remembered that these varieties of Jnana constitute the two sorts of Pramanas recognised in Jaina Philosophy "(`)" ( तत्वार्थ सूत्र १1१० ).
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Mati Jnana is knowledge derived through the senses, including the knowledge which arises from the activity of the mind. Sruta Jnana is knowledge derived through symbols or signs (e.g., words which are symbols of ideas, gestures, (etc.). Avadhi Jnana is the psychic knowledge which is directly acquired by the soul without the medium of the activity of the mind or the senses. Knowledge in the hypnotic state may be cited as an example of Avadhi Jnana. Manah-paryaya Jnana is the knowledge of the ideas and thoughts of others. Mind reading is an instance of this kind of knowledge. Kevala Jnana is omniscience or knowledge unlimited as to space, time or object.
In our everyday life we have Mati Jnana and Sruta Jnana, but there are instance, though rare, of persons who, under a hypnotic trance, have knowledge of certain things (Avadhi Jnana) and of persons who can read the thoughts of others (Mahah-paryaya Jnana). Though the exact nature of the last two kinds of knowledge have not yet been undetsrood, there is no doubt of the possibility of their existence. The mention, therefore, of these kinds of knowledge by ancient Jaina writers proves at that time there were evidences which led them to believe in these two forms of knowledge. The occult powers attainable by Yogis which are mentioned in Yoga Philosophy of the Hindus also support the view that in ancient India occult sciences were by no means unknown. The last-mentioned knowledge, Kevala-Jnana or omniscience, which correspond to the knowledge of the sages called Sarvajnas or Trikaldarsis in the Puranas of the Hindus, is, according to the Jaina tradition, only possessed by those who have reached the highest point of elevation. The Tirthankaras and Ganadharas are said to possess such a kind of knowledge.
Though it is not possible to understand the real nature of knowledge called Avadhi Jnana, Manah-paryaya Jnana and Kevala, Jnana, we can describe full the remaining two kinds of knowledge viz., Sruta Jnana and Mati Jnana. Sruta Jnana is knowledge derived