Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 614

Sec. 111]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
589
Abhinibodhika-jnana is the sensuous knowledge acquired through the sense-organs and quasi-sense, i.e. mind, and áruta-jñāna is the knowledge derived from the interpretations of signs or hearing. Avadhi-jñāna is transcendental knowledge of that which has form; manaḥparyaya-jñāna is the knowledge of mental modes or thoughts of others; and kevala-jnana is omniscience the only pure knowledge free from the covering of karma-pudgala.1
These five kinds of knowledge are divided and sub-divided into different groups according to their respective nature, origin, conditions, factors, limits and validity. Thus abhinibodhika-jñāna involves four stages, viz. avagraha (perception or general knowledge), iha (desire to know or speculation), avaya (determination i. e. removal of doubt, and ascertainment of the object) and dhārāna (retention of the accepted knowledge).
These four stages of sensuous knowledge are studied from different aspects. Thus avagraha (perception or general knowledge) is divided into two kinds, viz., arthāvagraha (object-perception) and vyanjanavagraha (contact-awareness).
Tha (desire to know or speculation), avāya (determination) and dharana (relention) are classified into six divisions as they are caused by the activities of five sense-organs and mind.
Śruta-juana is of two-kinds, viz. añgapravista (internal) and angabahira (external); avadhi-jñana is classified into two categories, viz. bhavapratyayika (by virtue of birth) and kṣayopaśamika (that of human beings and five-sensed lower animals on accont of the destruction-cum-subsidence of relevant karmic neather. It is born as a result of the destruction of anger, destruction-cum-suppression of the knowledge-obscuring risen karma and suppression of the not-risen karma".
Ajnana (wrong knowledge)
an
There are three kinds of wrong knowledge, viz. mati-ajñāna (wrong knowledge acquired by ajñānī and mithyādṛṣṭi), śruta-ajnana (wrong interpretation of signs, by an ajani and mithyadrṣti), and vibhanga-jnana (perverted avadhijñāna ).o
1 BhS, (comm).
Nandi Sutra 134 to 140, 3 Bhs, 8, 2, 318.