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A Hand Book of Jainology
person. Rama from the point of view of Dasharatha was not both son and father but Rama was son from Dasharatha's point of view while he was a father from the point of view of Lava or Kusha. In this manner, Pitrutva (father) and Putratva (son) both co-existed in Rama. In the same manner, gold as original substance is permanent but as a modified form it is transient; therefore both transcience and permanence exist in it.
The Dharmas (qualities) of an object exist from different points of view. Therefore, the philosophy based on those dharmas will be true only from the point of view of the dharma on which it is based; not from any other. On the basis of other dharmas, other philosophies have to be expounded.
For example, the soul is permanent as jiva but transient as a human being. As a human being it is perishable and transient. The same object can possess different dharmas as seen from different points of view. It can contain mutually contradictory dharmas also.
A glass which is half-filled with water is filled in one sense and empty in another. The third finger is short as well as long. Therefore, insisting upon one philosophy based on any one dharma on the basis of Ekantavad is Mitya. The meaning is this. A substance is permanent without reference to points of view and is transient from any one point of view. This is based on any one view. The Anekantvad is also called Syadvad because it implies : “This may be". Syat means from one point of view and the philosophy ex'pounded thus is Syadvad. Understanding, seeing or saying are Pramanik (authentic) from the Anekant point of view; not from the Ekant point of view. Therefore, the Anekant philosophy is Pramanik (authentic). The Jain philosophy is based on Anekantvad and Syadvad or the relative philosophy. The great scientist Einstein expounded the same theory "The Theory of Relativity".
UTPAD. VYAY. DRAUVYA (Production, Destruction, Duration)
A true philosophy can emerge only when an object is examined in relation to all the other things because it is related
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