________________ Preface literally signifies assertion of possibilities, seeks to ascertain the meaning of the object-of-knowledge from all possible standpoints. Its chief merit is the anekanta, or many-sided view of logic. This, it would be seen at once, is most necessary in order to acquire complete knowledge about anything. Acarya Samantabhadra's Svayambhustotra: एकान्तदृष्टिप्रतिषेधि तत्त्वं प्रमाणसिद्धं तदतत्स्वभावम् / raun yurtdi ufqet FTTETTAT HANTHISIGUE CRI: 11 (8-8-88) O Lord Suvidhinatha! With the light of your omniscience you had promulgated the nature of the reality in a manner which contradicts the absolutist (ekanta) point-of-view, well-founded, and incorporates the principle of predication involving both, the affirmation and the negation, depending on the point-of-view. Others have not been able to view the nature of the reality in such light. The particle 'syad' in a sentence qualifies the acceptance or rejection of the proposition or predication. It refers to a 'point-of-view' or 'in a particular context' or 'in a particular sense'. The 'vada' presents a theory of logic and metaphysics. Syadvada means a theory of predication of the reality from different points-of-view, in different contexts or from different universes of discourse. Syadvada is the expression of the pictures of the reality obtained from different points-of-view in definitive and determinate logical predications. There is no uncertainty or vacillation in the expression. Syaduada promotes catholic outlook of many-sided approach to the problem of understanding the reality. It is anti-dogmatic and presents a synoptic picture of the reality from different points-of-view. Syadvada expresses protest against the one-sided, narrow, dogmatic and fanatical approach to the problems of the reality. It affirms that there are different facets of the reality and these have to be understood from various points-of-view by the predications of affirmation, negation and indescribability. Acarya Samantabhadra's Aptamimamsa: स्याद्वादः सर्वथैकान्तत्यागात् किंवृत्तचिद्विधिः / HATHIAATUST hangefastach: 11 (808) . . . . . . . . . . XXI
