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ent, are present in reality ( nirdiśyamanadharmavyatirikta" šesadharmüntarasarosūcakena Syat yuktovūdo'bhipretadharmavacanari Syūdvādah ). Syädvāda reveals the certainty regarding any problem and not merely the possibility or probability. It is a unique contribution of Jainism to Indian Philosophy. Syädvadin is a popular appellation given by later philosophers to Jainas. Dharmakirti, Arcata and Santarakşıta used this term for the Jainas in their respective works.
Syat is generally rendered into English as "may be" or "perhaps" which is far from appropriate. As a matter of fact, there is no appropriate word for Syat in English, but we can translate it with the term relatively which is closer and more suitable to convey the significance of the theory. The Concise Oxford Dictionary gives the meaning of relatively as having mutual relations, corresponding in some way, related to each other”. 70 H,G.A 71 Van Zeyst writes: "When a function indicates some difinite relationship in which the object stands to some other object, the term must be described as "relative". There is a word Kathañicit in Sanskrit literature which is used as a substitute for Syāt by Jaina as well as non. Jaina philosophers. These connotations tally with the inner meaning of Syāt.
Further Syidvāda makes an effort to respect other doctrines by warning us against allowing the use of eva or only to proceed beyond its prescribed limits and penetrates the truth patiently and non-voilently. The uniqueness of Syadvāda as the most peaceful and non-violent means of arriving at the Truth through argumentation is emphasised by Tatiya in his assessment of Syādvada in Jaina Philos phy. "It is the attitude of tolerance and justice that was responsible for the origin of the doctrine of non-absolutism (anekantavāda ). Out of universal tolerance and peace-loving nature was born cautiousness of speech. Out of cautiousnes of speech was born the habit of explaining a problem with the help of Siyavāya ysyädvāda ) or Vibhajjavaya. This habit again developed into a non-absolutistic attitude towards reality.72
