Jain Journal 2007 10

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

Page 35

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JAIN JOURNAL: VOL-XLII, NO.2 OCTOBER 2007
relationship with Āpta, we can normally say that Agama is a written document and Āpta is an essential characteristic of Āgama.
The Jain Naiyāyikas have also dealt with in depth the object of pramāṇa and the result / benefits of pramāņa. The same is briefly discussed here.
3.4 Object of pramāņa or knowledge (prameya) or just object
The object of pramāna is an entity which has both generic and specific characteristics and the same is capable of going through transformation continuously. Existence of either the generic or just the specific characteristics of the entity are not possible. Every object has the the nature of being generic cum specific which the Jain ācāryas have explained by describing the origination-destruction permanence as the charactertics of the substance. Ācārya Umāswāmi in the Tattvārthasūtra has given two important sūtras as follows to describe this :
1. sat dravyalaksanam 2. upāda-vyaya-dhrauvva-vuktai sat.
Thus every substance in this universe is permanent and yet going through transformation continuously. Every moment a new mode originates and the old mode gets destroyed simultaneously and yet the substance continues to exist forever. This principle has been explained through the examples of gold necklace, soul, pitcher etc. For example, when a golden ring is melted to make a necklace then the ring (mode) gets destroyed, the necklace (mode) gets destroyed and but gold continues to exist as a basic substance.
3.5 Result / benefits of pramāņa
We should look at the benefits of pramāņa from two perspectives namely immediate and inheritance (paramparā). Elimination of lack of knowledge is the immediate benefit of pramana and giving up the