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102
THE JAINA GAZETTE
Sound is of two kinds,—viz., Linguistic and Non-linguistic. The former is either a Sound expressed in letters of alphabet or one, not so expressed. The spoken languages of various nations are instances of the first while the sounds by which the lower animals and the Omniscient Beings express themselves are examples of Linguistic (Bhasha-lakshana) Sounds which are not expressed in letters. The Non-linguistic sounds are either Natural (Vaisrasika) e.g., the roar of thunder or Adventitious (Prayogika). This latter kind of Non-linguistic Sounds again may be of four modes viz , Tata, Vitata, Ghana and Soushira. Of these, Ghana is the Sound, produced from cymbals and other such metallic instruments while Soushira is that produced from wind-instruments e.g. a pipe. As regards Tata and Vitata, we have slightly varied accounts. The author of the Tattvartha-raja-varttika says that Tata is the Sound, produced by an instrument covered by Skin (“Charmatalanat"), while Vitata is that coming from a stringed instrument (“Tantrikrita"). Brahma-deva, on the contrary, quotes a passage, “Tata is to be known as the Sound of (a stringed instrument like) Vina etc., while Vitala as that coming from (an instrument covered by leather e.g.) a Pataha" The account of the author of Amarkosha seems to be in agreement with the latter description with this variation that he calls Vitata Anaddha
It should be noticed in this connection that the Jaina theory of language is a peculiar one which is shortly express. ed in the aphorism of Vadi-deda in the following way:“An alnhabetic letter e.g. ‘A’etc. is a modification of Matter or Pudgala." It is needless to mention that this theory of lan. guage, curious as it seems to be, is nevertheless but a direct corollary of the Jaina doctrine of Sound, according to which Sound itself is a mode of Matter. Ratna-prabha, in explaining the above Sutra of Vadi-dova says that the letters of the alphabet are material in this sense that they are caused or generated (Arabdha) by material particles, called the Bhasha-Dargana.
Manas. Manas or Mind and Indriyas or the five well-known organs of Sense are also material according to the Jainas. Manas in Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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