Jain Journal 1999 10

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

Page 6

Vol. XXXIV
JAIN JOURNAL
No. 2 October
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE RAJJAN KUMAR
Knowledge is the essence of soul. Through the development of philosophical speculation, knowledge, the essence of soul, becomes a matter of discussion as a thought or a concept or an idea or a principle. The nature of this concept has been everchanging during the gradual development of mankind. No doubt, the history of the concept of knowledge is quite vague, but it keeps its sacred view-point always alive in every stage. The consideration of Jaina thinkers about the concept of 'Knowledge' is quite historical and have great importance in the field of 'Epistemology'. The concept has been taken as utilitarian manner and is accounted as a means to something higher which is nothing but emancipation.
1999
Indian system of consideration of knowledge
Knowledge is the basic thoughts of philosophy and it is known as "Darsana" by Indians. Like philosophy, Darsana in India does not begin as a science of ascertaining facts, but as the quest for values. Fundamentally, it has taken as mokṣasāstra, the science or education of salvation. From the oldest literature, the Vedas upto the recent and most updated writings of 'Knowledge', this fact has been seen in different manner. Liberation or Mokṣa or Niravāṇa or Upavarga is the supreme goal of mankind. In Indian system knowledge has been accounted as a path of liberation.
Needless to say that the Vedas are the most precious treatise of India. The Upanisadas, ally of the Vedas, have the same values as the Vedas. The testimony of the Upanisadas are unanimous. They not only define the character of knowledge by Indian thinkers, but also establish the standard of valuation of knowledge. That standard of valuation have accepted more or less by all other Indian thinkers in their own ways.
Knowledge and Reality are two inseparable concepts. According to