________________
Vol. XXVI, 2003
JAINA THEORY OF NAYA AND LAKŞAŅĀ....
ending, gender, number, etc. For example if we say, "There was a town named Rājagļha', The broad meaning of this sentence is that a town namely Rājagrha existed long before the days of the author:'Though the town of Rājagļha existed even in the days of the author but the Rājagrha, he meant is different from that in his days.
Samabhirūdha naya (Etymological standpoint) talks of words' own meaning based on their derivation. It however maintains that the synonymous word though indicate the same thing still they are different from each other like rājā, nrpa, bhūpa etc.
Evambhūta naya (The "Thus happened" standpoint) reflects that when a difference in etymology can yield a difference in meaning then it too should be conceded that a word stands for a thing only in case this thing satisfies the etymology of this word and that only in such a case - not otherwise - this thing has to be denoted by this word. Thus a man who has only earned the right to be decorated by royal insignia at some time or the other, can not be called rājā. He can be so called only when he is carrying the royal crown and is shining with glory.
Let us now see the characteristics of Laksanā. Mammata defines it as follows -
मुख्यार्थबाधे तद्योगे रूढितोऽथ प्रयोजनात् ।
अन्योऽर्थो लक्ष्यते यत्सा लक्षणा आरोपिता क्रिया ॥ When the principle meaning is suspended and other nearby meaning is implied through convention or purpose, then the element which is instrumental in this whole process is called laksanā.
Now, if we see the nayas particularly naigama naya in light of the characteristics of laksanā, we can easily find the similarity between the two. The Sankalpa naigama naya deals with intention. When a man, who is preparing for Mumbai, says that he is going to Mumbai, the principle meaning is not applicable and the other meaning nearby comes through purpose. The sentence thus means that he is preparing for Mumbai. The amsa naigama talks of part of the whole. As a spark burns a small part of a cloth and the owner of the cloth says that the whole cloth is burnt, then obviously the meaning he conveys by his sentence,' is suspended for, the whole cloth is not burnt. The implied meaning of this sentence is that the partial burning of the cloth is as good as the whole burning of it. The
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
