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340
1. Abhinibodhika jñāna (sense experience) 2. Śrutajñāna (indirect knowledge) 3. Avadhijñāna (clairvoyance)
4. Manaḥparyayajñāna (telepathy) 5. Kevalajñāna (omniscience)1
A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
Keśikumāra Śramana belonged to the Parsvanatha tradition. The five types of knowledge mentioned in the Parsvanatha tradition have also been presented by Mahavira.2
In the Uttaradhyayana sūtra there is a dialogue between Keśi and Gautama. From this, it is clear that there was no difference of opinion between them regarding the theory of knowledge and metaphysics although there were slight differences regarding the practice. If there were difference regarding metaphyics these would have been mentioned in this discourse. The Digambara and Svetämbra traditions have the same theory of 5 types of knowledge, although there is some differences regarding the nature of kevalajñāna and kevaldarśana.
From the point of view of the development of the theory of knowledge and on the basis of the agamic theory of knowledge we get three stages.4 The first stage describes the 5 types of knowledge. It also mentions the distinctions in the abhinibodhika jñāna (senseexperience) into 4 stages like avagraha, īhā, avāya and dhāraṇā The first stage gives the following classification of knowledge.
JÑANA5
abhinibodhika
Т
avagraha
1
śruta
ihā
avāya
The second stage makes a distinction in the knowledge as pratyakşa (direct) and parokşa (indirect) with its sub-divisions. There is
1 Rājapraśniya sūtra 165.
2 Bhagavati 88, 2, 317.
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avadhi manaḥparyaya kevala
I
dhāraṇā
3 Uttaradhyayana sutra, adhayayana, 23.
4 Pt. Dalsukh Mālvaṇiā, Agama yuga kā Jaina Darśana, p. 129.
5 Bhagavati 88, 2, 317.
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