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Jaina Concept of Origin and Transmission of Speech (Bhāṣā)
R. P. PODDAR
Jaina scriptures often adopt a question-answer method for exposition of a subject. They treat speech (bhāṣā) in the same way. In the 11th chapter of the Pannavaņāsutta, questions about origin and transmission of speech (bhāsā) are put by Gautama Ganadhara, to the Tīrthañkara Mahāvīra who answers them.
The questions are : | Bhāsa nam bhante kimādiya ?
Where does the speech originate? ii) Kim pavahā ?
From where is it produced ? iii) Kim santhiyā ?
What is it shaped like? iv) Kim pajjavasiyā ?
Where does it come to an end ? The answers are : i) Bhāṣā nam jīvādīyā.
Speech originates from jīva (soul) ii) Sarīrappabhavā.
It is produced from the body.
iii) Vajjasanthiyā.
It is shaped as vajra, narrow in the middle and spread out at both the ends. In Jaina metaphysics cosmos is supposed to be of this shape, roughly like that of a
man standing akimbo with the legs wide apart. IV) Loganta-pajjavasiyā.
