Svabhavvada a Study

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

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18 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
that it was more intimately connected with Materialism or Cārvākadarśana. It is much more allied to Cārvākadarśana in as much as both deny a transmigrating soul, whereas Niyativāda believes in an immortal soul. Further, in view of the fact that the Ājivikas ultimately merged with the Jainas—which indicates that they had much in common--it would be more proper to regard Svabhāvavāda as part and parcel of Materialism as has been done by tradition.
SVABHAVAVADA DIALECTIC
That the Svabhāvavada must once have been well-known is evident from the numerous references to it in Sanskrit and Prakrit literature. No detailed exposition of it is to be found in any single treatise. The only account of this doctrine we have is in the prima facie argument or view (Purvapakşa) given in the works of its opponents for purposes of refutation. It is not improbable that the opponents ascribed to the Svabhāvavadin's arguments which were easy of refutation. So we have to be cautious in judging the Svabhāvavādin's powers of logical argument and dialectic skill.
In the course of his commentary to Ganadharavāda25 Jinabhadragani more than once mentions Svabhāvavāda and refutes it. He explains the variety of the world on the basis of the doctrine of Karman, which is
25 होज सहावो वत्थु निकारणया व वत्थुधम्मो वा।
जह वत्थु णत्थि तओऽणुवलद्धीओ खपुष्पं व ॥ अच्चंतमणुवलो वि अहतओ अस्थि नत्थि किं कम्मं । हेऊ व तदत्थिते जो णणु कम्मरस वि स एव ॥ कम्मरस वाभि हाणं होज सहावो त्ति होउ को दोसो । निश्चं व सो सभावो सरिसो एत्थं च को हेऊ ॥ सो मुत्तोऽमुत्तो वा जइ मुत्तो तो न सव्वहा सरिसो। परिणामओ पयं पिव न देहहेऊ जइ अमुत्तो ॥ उवगरणाभावाओ न य हवइ सुहम्म सो अमुत्तो वि । कज्जस्स मुत्तिमत्ता सुहसंवित्तादिओ चेव ॥ अहवाकारणउ चिय सभावओ तोवि सरिसया कत्तो। किमकारणओ न भवे विसरिसया किं व विच्छित्ती॥ अहव सहावो धम्मो वत्थुस्स न सो वि सरिसओ निच्चं । उप्पायट्ठिइभंगा चित्ता जं वत्थुपज्जाया ॥ कम्मस्स वि परिणामो सुहम्म धम्मो सपोग्गलमयस्स । हेऊ चित्तो जगओ होइ सहावो त्ति को दोसो ॥
-Ganadharavāda vv. 1786-1793