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A Hand Book of Jainology
etc. Paroksha jnan is classified into (1) Mathijnan, (2) Shrutajnan. The Pratyaksha jnan is of 3 kinds namely Avadhijnan, Manahaparyaya jnan and Keval jnan. Thus, there are 5 kinds of Praman : (1) Mathi Jnan, (2) Shruta Jnan, (3) Avadhi Inan, - (4) Manahparyaya Jnan, (5) Keval Jnan. (1) MATHI JNAN: This is obtained by the mind and the senses by means of our eyes; we can see substances having form, colour, shape, numbers etc., just as we say and see, "This is a pot, it is red; it is one; it is round etc".
With the help of the sense of smell we get the knowledge of the smell. “From where did this sweet smell or foul smell come ?" With the help of the sense of taste we can get a knowledge of taste, "How is the taste of this sweet ?"
With the help of the sense of touch, we get the knowledge of touch, "This is tender and soft”. With the help of hearing we get the knowledge of sound, "Oh how sweet is the sound”. The mind carries out contemplation, reminiscence, etc. and we say, "I will go tomorrow, I met him on the way. The smoke is visible; so there is fire". This is Mathijnan.
The Mathijnan is of four steps :
First we get this idea, "It is something". This is called the Avagraha step. Then we reach the point of thinking, "What can it be? This is not this. It is something else". This is the Iha state. After this, we say “This is only that". This kind of determination is Apaya step. Lastly, recording it in the mind is Dharana.
For example, some one is singing; some one is playing on some musical instrument. This is Avagraha received through the shrothrendriya. This sound is that of a tabala or drum. It seems to be that of a drum". This is the "Iha" stage. (3) This is surely the sound of a drum. This is Apaya stage. (4) Recording this in the mind is Dharan.
Avagraha is also of 2 kinds : (1) "It is something”. For expressing this Abhasa (Hazy idea), first before we say it, there appears a contact between the body and the sense, and
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