Jain Journal 1988 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 26

The Pramāņa Sāästra (or the epistemology) is the basis of Indian philosophical thinking. Without the pramānas (or valid knowledge) man could not have been able to understand the objects truely. Valid knowledge is essential for day-to-day life and due to it we are able to accept or reject any object. If there were no knowledge there would be no activity towards the objects. Moreover, valid knowledge only helps us to recognize the desirables.
The Jaina Concept of Perception
LALITA CHAKRABORTY
Though, there is no difference about the nature (svarupa) of the pramānas, still we find different views regarding its classification. The first and foremost i.e. perception has been accepted as the base of all other knowledges (pramāņas) i.e. inference, verbal testimony, etc., because their validity depend on the validity of perception only. But different opinions are found regarding the characteristics of perception. More-or-less, all philosophers accept the perception as sensory knowledge. But the Jainas explain perception from different standpoint. And that is why, the theory of perception is being discussed here.
According to the Jainas, the knowledge which arises from self is aparoksa and paroksa arises from the sense organs. It is remarkable to note that the basic difference among the Jainas and the other philosophers lies on the explanation of the derivative meaning of the term 'pratyaksa'. The word 'pratyakşa' is derived from the word 'akṣa'. According to the philosophers (other than the Jainas), the meaning of the word 'aksa' is the sense-organs, so the knowledge, which appears from the sense-organs is called as pratyakṣa.3 On the other hand, the Jainas hold that 'akṣa' means the jiva (or the self) which pervades or
1 cf;
2
pravrtti-samarthyad-arthavat
pramanam Vatsyayana-bhasyam (Nyaya-sutram) (ed. by Tarkavagisa, Phanibhusana, Calcutta, 1981) p. 1.
cf; aksnati vyapanoti janatiti aksa atma; tam-eva-prapta-ksayopsamam praksenavaranam va pratiniyatam pratyaksam/Sarvartha-siddhi (Pujyapadacarya, Second Edition, 1839) p. 59.
pramanato'rtho-pratipattau
3 cf; tatraksam aksam pratityotpadyata iti pratyaksam, aksanindriyani/Prasastapadabhasyam, (Sridharbhatta, ed. by Jha, Durgadhara, Varanasi, 1977) p. 442.