ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 295

6.0 Origin and Growth of jñ na Doctrine in Jain Philosophy
We shall now review developments in the concepts and literature on jn na in Jain philosophy.
a. Pre-Mah v ra Time to 1st Century BC. Canonical Era
Basis of our knowledge of Jain theory of knowledge is the transfer of knowledge on the tradition of preceptor to disciple for quite some time as no efforts were made for a long time to document the sermons of Bhagav na Mah vra or earlier trtha karas. Jain definition of the loka states that loka is eternal i.e. not created by anyone and existent from beginning-less period. The entire time period divided into epochs and each epoch has a series of 24 trtha karas practicing and delivering the Dv da gas. Thus jn na origin is beginningless as it is accepted as a co-existent quality of soul.
Fourteen P rvas (old texts), which are the organised source of knowledge before Mah v ra's time and non existent now, have Jñana Prav da as number 5th p rva dealing exclusively on the subject of jn na. Dv da gas (compiled by Gautama, the principal apostle of Mah vra and based on His sermons) all through have discussions on jñ na. So the period from Mah v ra's time till say 1st century BC can be considered as the time of Yogi-pram a as the basis of right / valid knowledge (due to the presence of either omniscient themselves or the rutakevalis or c ryas having knowledge of some purv s or some A gas). Knowledge is described in canonical texts as of five types shown in Fig 1 to 3.
Five types of knowledge as per Fig.1 - Ref Bhagwati Sutra
Regrouping the five types of jñ na in two categories namely direct (pratyak a) and Indirect (parok a). Fig 2. Ref Sth n ga.
Sensual perception being included both as direct and indirect, i.e. Mati divided in two categories namely sensual perception as direct and memory, comparison, logic, inference as indirect. Fig 3. Ref. Nandi Sutra.
Mati, sensual-perception
Kevala
Avadhi
Śruta
Verbal or scriptural
Pratyaksa(direct)
Bhava pratya
Page 285 of 556
kṣayopaśamika
jñāna knowledge
No-kevala
Avadhi, Clairvoyance
Fig.1
jñāna
abhinibodhika
Manahparyaya
Manaliparyaya Telepathy
Fig.2
Parokia (indirect)
śrutaniśrita
SORS OF JAN
aśrutniśrita
STUDY NOTES version 4.0
Śruta
Kevala. Omniscience
Anga pravista
Anga bahia