Jainism a Glimpse

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 49

IV: Syādvāda - Philosophy of Relativity
The theory of Syādvāda otherwise known as Anēkāntavāda is the distinguished feature of the Jaina Philosophy. It is an important subject as the doctrine is found only in the Jaina Philosophy. Every principle of Jaina Philosophy is considered in the light of "Syādvāda". "Syada" means in a sense or form a certain stand point and "Vāda" points at "Principle" or "School".
It points out relativity or true nature of a thing which cannot be explained in absolute terms. Jainas maintain that thing is possessed of many attributes and we express the thing only in one or more of these attributes. The relationships between the thing and that attribute cannot, however, be stated in an unmodified statement. The same thing appears to be a different type from different stand point. To comprehend the aspect one must take into account, several standpoints or views. Syādvāda is also known as Anēkāntavāda, or the Doctrine of Manifold Aspects. Anēkāntavāda describes the world as manifold, and ever changing reality, an infinity of view points depending on the time, place, nature and state of the one who is the viewer and that which is viewed.
What is true from one point of view is open to question from another. Absolute truth cannot be grasped from any particular view point alone. Absolute truth is the sum total of all the different-view points (more than one point of view).
The Syādvāda with its "Sapta Bhanga" or seven prepositions of modes of expressions each dealing with a particular aspect of a thing under consideration, yields Complete truth regarding that thing. These modes are interrelated and each presupposes other, each implies the other.
48