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A Treatinent of Nature of Reality: Anekāntavāda
67
The use of the word 'Eva':
During the discussion of Syādväda the Jaina logicians use the word "eva" with the word "syāt" Which prevents the affirmation or negation of the one or other characteristics of an entity. It is of three types, vizi) Ayogavyavacchedaka which applies with the adjective, such as sambhuh pandu eva. II) Anyayogavyavacchedaka which applies with the subject, such as Pārtha eva dhanurdharaḥ, and iii) Atyantayogavyavacchedaka bodhaka which applies with the verb, such as nīlam sarojam astyeva. The use of eva in the Saptabharigi is ayogavyavacchedaka. It refutes the theories of Kşanabhangavāda, Sūnyavāda, Vijñānavāda etc.
Both the Pramāṇasaptabhangi and Nayasaptabhangs have been discussed in Jaina literature. The use of "eva" has divided the Jainācāryas into two groups. One which differentiates between the use of both the types of sentences. For instance, Jayasena asserts that "syādstyeva" represents Naya -saptabharigi.“9 Akalanka, Abhaydevasūri etc. are also of the same views. The other group does not distinguish between these sentences. Vidyānanda gives an example "Syādastyeva jivān "for both the Pramāņa saptabhangi and Naya saptabhangi'. Prabhācandra, also follows him. It seems, both the words syāt and eva should be used together for the purpose of explaining the nature of reality through Anekāntarāda.
The practice of Saptabhangi started in the philosophical field with the view to refute or include the others's veiws. Samantabhadra utilizes the first four Bhargas and refuted the Sadaikāntavāda of Sarikhyas, Asadaikāntavāda of Mādhymikas, Sarvathā Ubhayavāda of Vaišesikas and Avaktavyaikānta vāda of Buddhists and intimated the use of remaining three Bhangiss). Akalanka used these last three Bhangas for refutation of others' views. For instance, the Anirvacanīyavāda of Sankarācārya has been refuted under the Bhanga sadavakta vya, Anyápohavāda of Buddhists has been referred under the Bhanga Astyavakta vya and the padārthavāda of Yogas has been refuted under the Bhanga Sadasadvaktavya.
The Saptabhangas have also been utilised in the context of Anekāntavāda, via. Syādekānta, Syādanekānta, Syādubhaya,
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