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Jaina Perspective in Philosophy and Religion
Hermon Jacobi calls Syadváda a Synonym of Jainism.1
Now, the seven forms of Saptabharigi Syadvada are predicative judgement regarding the same object according to the point of view of speech. As different aspect of reality can be considered from four different perspectives ( Niksepa or Nayas ) such as name, representation, privation and present condition”, similarly seven modes of speech can be considered from four different points of view of its own matter, time, place and nature as well as from other point of view.3
Now a thing exists4 as itself under certain circumstances from the point of its own material, place, time and nature. This table exists as made of wood in this hall at the present moment with such and such shape and size, but this does not exist as made of gold, at another place or at another time of a different shape. So the table exists somehow, i. e., not always, everywhere, in every shape. Hence let us say somehow the table exists or simply Finlasfed. Similarly, somehow the table does not exist, when considered from its other point of view. So existence and non-existence are to be asserted accordingly as the element of one or the other is in predominance. Things are considered in relation to their importance and not.5 Hence Syad Násti.
But when can the table exist as well as not exist ? Yes the table can exist for me in certain form, place, etc. and does not exist in other form, place, etc. So we may say that the table somehow exists and not exists ( स्याद अस्ति च नास्ति च ).
1. H. Jacobi : Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, Vol. 7,
p. 465. 2. "ATH FTTTTTFÖTT 9799 FTECTIF:”, care-777, 9-41 3. स्वद्रव्य, स्वकाल, स्वक्षेत्र, स्वरूप-परद्रव्य, परकाल, परक्षेत्र, पररूप । 4. S. Radhakrishnan : History of Indian Philosophy, Vol. I,
p. 302. 5. Umaswati : sfäärarförarea : 1
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