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Preface Navatattvaprakarana is an important work of Jaina philosophical literature. Dealing with nine tattavas (categories of truth) this work is based on the premise that the goal of human life is complete eradication of sorrows and sufferings i.e. to attain salvation, possible only by treading on the path of triple jewels (ratna-traya)- right faith (samyagdarśana), right knowledge (samyag-jñāna) and right conduct (samyag caritrā), which collectively constitute the path of liberation. Out of these three jewels right faith is to believe in tattvas (categories of truth). As the great exponent of Jaina philosophy and monk Acārya Umāsvāti has rightly observed in his famous work Tattvārthasütra
tattvārthaśraddhānamsamyagdarśanam. (1.2)
Therefore, the true knowledge of the tattvas (categories of truth) is considered of great importance for attainment of salvation, which the said work deals with. The word "tattva" is derived from the Sanskrit word tat with the suffix tva, which connotes the meaning as 'tasyabhāvaḥ tattvam' i.e. the first principle or category of truth. In Jainism the word tattva, sat, artha, Padārtha and tattvārtha have been used in various context as synonyms of the word Reality or its equivalent term. Generally, Jainas do not make any distinction among substance, reality, existence etc. Acārya Umāsvāti has used the word tattvārtha, sat and dravya in similar way, in the context of substance. Ācārya Nemicandra has mentioned dychotomous division of tattva into jīva (living) and ajīva (non-living) as dravyas. In Jaina canons dravya (substance) is classified as of six types- Jiva, ajīva, dharma, adharma, pudgala and kāla while tattvas are said to be of nine, viz.
I. existence of soul (Jiva) 2. existence of non-santient entity (ajīva--matter, time, sapce, medium
of rest, medium of motion). 3. auspicious karma (punya)
inauspicious karma (pāpa) 5. the inflow of karmic particles towards the soul (āśrava) 6. stoppage of inflow of karmic particles (saṁvara) 7. annihilation of karmic particles (nirjarā)
binding of karmic particles with the soul (bandha)
