Jaina Epistemology

Author(s): Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 52

History and Sources
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one or other sentences. The whole edifice of Jaina logic stands on the system depicted in it. In certain aspects Nyāyāvatāra resembles Nyāyapravega of Dinnāga and in other respects Nyāyabindu of DharmakIrti. Prof. Malavania has discussed it by giving ample quotation from the original works in Appendix No. 1 of Nyāyāvatārasūtravārtika. It shows that Siddhasena, though keeping in view the Jaina point, has amply followed Dinnāga in his definitions.
In the Agamic literature the Jñāna and Pramāņa stand as altogether separate subjects. Umāsvāti combined them by dividing the five types of Jñāna into two Pramānas. Siddhasena also has twofold division, but does not follow the Agamic tradition. He takes into consideration the Pramāṇas only. In the definition of perception he includes both, experience as well as intuition. In Paroksa he includes inference and verbal testimony. Thus, Siddhasena does not follow the Agamic conception of pramāņa; but that of the Sankhya or the old Buddhists.
Indian logic mainly deals with the four aspects of knowledge, namely pramāna, the source of knowledge; pramātā, the cognizer; prameya, the object and pramiti, the cognition. Siddhasena has discussed in the present work all of these aspects according to the Jaina point of view. The definition of pramāna its divisions and subdivisions and the parts of syllogism have been discussed in a short but precise manner. He has taken up the question of Nayas also and has tried to refute other systems. He generally follows Dinnāga in the wording of definitions, but at the same time rejects his views of idealism and Trilakşaņa.
Some of the stanzas of Nyāyāvatāra suggest to the existence of another work on logic before Siddhasena; but it is difficult to ascertain whether they refer to the Jaina or non-Jaina work.
Siddharsi (9th and 10th cent.) wrote a valuable commentary on the Nyāyāvatāra. It explains the text in its proper setting and at the same time gives valuable information of the views of