Jain Journal 1999 04

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

Page 8

JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXIII, No. 4 April 1999 himself :- He was born in a village called Nyagrodhikā, but he wrote the Tattvärthadhigama-sūtra in Patliputra or Kusumapura (modern Patna). He belonged to the Kaubhiṣaṇin-gotra. His father was Svāti and he was consequently sometimes called Svātitanaya. He was also known as Vātsi-suta, because his mother was Uma of the Vatsagotra. In the Tirthakalpa of Jinaprabha-sūri, it is stated that Umāsvāti was the author of 500 Sanskrit prakaranas (treatises). He is said to have belonged to the Svetambara sect, though it is probable that the distinction between that sect and the Digambaras had not in his time come into existence.
1. UMĀSVĀTI'S DOCTRINE OF PRAMĀŅA (RIGHT KNOWLEDGE)
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Parokṣa, indirect knowledge, and Pratyakṣa, direct knowledge
In the Tattvarthādhigama-sūtra, Pramāņa fluctuates between the meanings of valid knowledge and the means of valid knowledge. In its former sense Pramāņa, according to this Sūtra, is of two kinds : (1) Parokṣa, indirect knowledge, which is acquired by the soul through external agencies such as the organs of sense, and (2) Pratyakṣa, direct knowledge, which is acquired by the soul without the intervention of external agencies. Parokṣa, indirect knowledge, includes mati1 and
Umāsvāmin (probably the same as Umāsvāti) is included as the sixth Digambara Suri of the Sarasvati-gaccha, between Kundakunda and Lohācārya II. According to Dr. Hoernle (vide "Two Paṭṭāvalīs of the Sarasvatigaccha" by Dr. Hoernle in the Indian Antiquary, Vol. XX, October 1891, p. 351) the date of Umāsvamin's accession is 44 A.D., and he lived for 84 years, 8 months and 6 days. Dr. Hoernle adds, the Kāṣṭāsaṁgha arose in the time of Umāsvämin.
Umāsvāti's Tattvārthādhiguma-sūtra with his bhāṣya, together with Pūjāprakaraṇa, Jambudvipa-samāsa and Prasamarati, has been published by the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta, in one volume, which ends thus: kṛtiḥ sitāmbarācāryasya mahākaver umāsvāti-vācakasya iti. (Jambudvipa-samāsa, p. 38, published as Appendix C to the Tattvārthādhigama-sūtra in the Bibliotheca Indica series).
The Tattvärthadhigama-sutra has been translated into English by Mr. J.L. Jaini of Indore.
4. Mati is knowledge of existing things acquired through the senses and the mind.
Śruta is knowledge of things (past, present and future) acquired through reasoning and study.
Avadhi is knowledge of things beyond the range of our perception. Manaḥparyaya is knowledge derived from reading the thoughts of others. Kevala is unobstructed, unconditional and absolute knowledge.