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JAIN JOURNAL
Vol. XXXVIII
No. 2 October
2003
THE FAMILY OF ANEKĀNTAVĀDA AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE
Prof. Prem Suman Jain, Udaipur The Jain religion is one of the prominent religions of India. It began as a spiritual discipline of Samaņas, Arhats, Tirthankaras, Nigganthas, and Jinas. They were called Samaņas (Monks) because they believed in the equality of all beings and practised non-violence. They were called Arhats (worthy of worship) because they lived virtuous lives. As the originators of the spiritual path, they were known as Tirtharikarus (Fordmakers). Being free from passions, they were called Nigganthas (detached). And because they had conquered all of their desires, they were identified as Jinas (Victors). Hence, the religion propounded by such conquerors, is fittingly called the Jaina religion'.
Jaina religion encompasses a threefold path of spiritual practice. It includes right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. The three components are interrelated and interdependent and are known as “The Three Jewels”, because of their value for salvation. Right knowledge includes the nature of things in this world. In discussing the qualities of material particles, Jainism finds that they are of infinite number and that some of these are apparently contradictory. Simply stated, the qualities of a thing are not exhausted by our comprehension of it, and there is more than meets the eye. Philosophically, this is known as the theory of non-absolutism (Anekāntavāda) and calls for an attitude of openness?. Our limitations of knowledge dictate a style of relativity. The linguistic manner of expressing various qualities of matter is called Svadvāda (the doctrine of qualified assertion). The style of Svādvāda allows no rooms for assertions. This Jaina theory of knowledge, incorporating the two principles of non-absolutisms and relativity, has made an esteemed contribution toward liberalizing the mind of man. It elevates the mystery of life and denigrates dogmatism.
Anekāntavida is a special contribution of the Jainas to the philosophical world. It is the unique contribution that the Jainas have
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