Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
is not; as bāhulero is, sāmalero is not; are examples of (kifcit vaidharnya). Agama (Scripture)
ama is the sacred literature embodying the experiences of the Apta-purusas characterized by disinterestedness (vītarāgatā). There are two kinds of Agama, viz. laukika and lokottarikathe first one consists of the Bhārata, the Rāmāyaṇa upto the four Vedas, etc., while the second comprises the twelve Angas composed by the Arhats." Relativity of Judgement
The logical system as formulated in the Bhs throws a welcome light upon the relativity of judgement, while giving exposition of the metaphysical thoughts from the stand-point of non-absolutism?, e g. souls are eternal from the aspect of substance and non-eternal from that of mode or state. "Jīvā sāsayā asāsaya davvatthayāe sāsayā bhāvatthayāe asāsayā."
The Acārānga Sūtra gives a more clear conception of the relativity of judgement by explaining that he who knows one object with its qualities knows all things, he who knows all things with their qualities knows one thing.
"Je egam jāņai se savvam jāņai"
"Je savvam jāņai se egam jāņai.” Things are not same at different moments, because there is the evolution of beings, origination, continuation and decay of the substances of the Universe with the march of time. The qualities continue in things so long as they exist, but the modes (paryayas) change; these characterize the things. Thus the value of a substance is determined from different aspects, e.g. soul is knowledge, knowledge is souls
The study of the nature of substance reveals that infinite malities and modes of it exist in it as the cause and effect. To
1 Anuyogadvāra Sutra, pp. 194 to 200. 9 Non-Absolutism, Dr. Satkari Mookerjee. * Acaranga Sutra, 1, 3, 4; 122.
8 Bh8, 7, 2, 274, 5 Bhs, 12, 10, 468.