Jaina Tarka Bhasha - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jaina Tarka Bhasha" by Dayanand Bhargava, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Jaina Tarka Bhasha (A Manual of Jaina Logic) Author: Mahāmahopādhyāya Śrī Yaśovijaya Gaņi (compiled and translated by Dr. Dayanand Bhargava) Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Pvt Ltd

Overview:

"Jaina Tarka Bhasha" is a significant work of Jaina logic, attributed to the renowned 17th-century Jaina logician Śri Yaśovijaya Gaņi. The book, presented here with an English translation, critical notes, and an introduction by Dr. Dayanand Bhargava, serves as a comprehensive introduction to Jaina logical thought. Dr. Bhargava's translation and annotations aim to make this complex subject accessible to a wider audience.

The text is structured into three main chapters, covering core concepts of Jaina epistemology and metaphysics:

Pramāna Paricchēda (On the Organ of Knowledge): This chapter is the most extensive and forms the backbone of the work. It delves into the nature of valid knowledge (pramāņa) and its various types.
Naya Paricchēda (On the Partial Point of View): This chapter explains the Jaina doctrine of naya, which posits that reality can be understood from multiple, limited perspectives.
Nikṣēpa Paricchēda (On the Symbol): This chapter discusses the concept of nikṣēpa, a method of classifying realities or concepts into different symbolic representations.

Key Concepts and Discussions:

Chapter 1: On the Organ of Knowledge (Pramāna Paricchēda)

Definition of Pramāṇa: The text defines pramāņa as the "definitive cognition of the self and the others." It emphasizes the importance of the "definitive" aspect to distinguish it from indeterminate intuition, doubt, and error.
Types of Pramāņa:
- Pratyakşa (Perceptual Cognition): Divided into:
  - Sāmvyavahārika (Empirical): Knowledge gained through senses and mind, considered 'perceptual' in ordinary transaction. It's further divided into sensuous (Indriyaja) and quasi-sensuous (Anindriyaja).
  - Pāramārthika (Transcendental): 'Pure' perception, not mediated by senses or mind. This includes:
    - Avadhi (Clairvoyance): Knowledge of material objects up to a certain extent.
    - Manahparyāya (Telepathy): Knowledge of the mental states of others.
    - Kevala (Perfect Knowledge): Omniscient knowledge encompassing all realities.
- Parokṣa (Non-Perceptual Cognition): Knowledge that is not direct and clear. It is classified into five types:
  - Smrti (Recollection): Knowledge of past experiences.
  - Pratyabhijñāna (Recognition): Synthetic knowledge of identity and similarity.
  - Tarka (Reasoning): Logical inference about universal concomitance, distinct from direct perception.
  - Anumāna (Inference): Inferring the unknown from the known, divided into inference for oneself and for others.
  - Āgama (Verbal Testimony/Scriptures): Knowledge derived from authentic sources.
Detailed Analysis: The chapter meticulously analyzes each type of knowledge, discussing their subdivisions, definitions, and refuting the viewpoints of various non-Jaina schools (Bauddhas, Naiyāyikas, Sānkhyas, Mimāṁsakas). It examines issues like the nature of mind, the validity of recollection, the relationship between matijñāna and śrutajñāna, and the subtleties of inference, including fallacies (hetvābhāsa).
Saptabhangi (Seven-fold Statement): The text extensively discusses the saptabhangi, a unique Jaina logical principle that allows for multiple, seemingly contradictory statements about an object from different perspectives (naya), all considered valid within their own framework. This is explained through seven modes of predication: exists, does not exist, both exists and does not exist, indescribable, exists and indescribable, does not exist and indescribable, and exists, does not exist, and indescribable.

Chapter 2: On the Partial Point of View (Naya Paricchēda)

Concept of Naya: This chapter explains the naya doctrine, stating that reality is multifaceted and can be grasped from various limited viewpoints. These viewpoints are not organs of knowledge themselves but ways of understanding the reality cognized by pramāņa.
Types of Naya: Divided into two main categories:
- Dravyārthika Naya: Focuses on the substance (dravya) of things, often emphasizing permanence. It has three subdivisions: Naigama (non-distinguished), Samgraha (generic), and Vyavahāra (empirical).
- Paryāyārthika Naya: Focuses on the modes (paryāya) of things, emphasizing change and particularity. It has four subdivisions: Rju-sūtra (analytic), Śabda (verbal), Samabhirūḍha (subtle), and Evambhūta (such-like).
Refutation of Opponents: This chapter also refutes non-Jaina systems that rigidly adhere to one viewpoint, thereby distorting reality.

Chapter 3: On the Symbol (Nikṣēpa Paricchēda)

Concept of Nikṣēpa: This chapter introduces nikṣēpa, a method of symbolic representation and classification used to understand objects or concepts. It clarifies how words and ideas can be used symbolically to denote different aspects of reality.
Types of Nikṣēpa: Generally classified into four:
- Nāma (Name): A symbolic representation based on conventional naming.
- Sthāpanā (Replacement): A symbolic representation through an image or idol.
- Dravya (Substance): A symbolic representation referring to the material cause or potential state of an object.
- Bhāva (Nature/Actual): A symbolic representation referring to the actual state or quality of an object.
Interplay with Naya: The chapter discusses how these symbols are applied within the framework of different nayavāda perspectives, highlighting the Jaina emphasis on relativity and contextual understanding.

Author and Translator:

The book is a translation and commentary on the work of Mahāmahopādhyāya Śrī Yaśovijaya Gaņi, a highly esteemed Jaina logician of the 17th century, known for his vast erudition and titles like Upādhyāya, Nyāya Viśārada, and Nyāyācārya. Dr. Dayanand Bhargava, the translator and commentator, acknowledges the profound influence of scholars like Pt. Sukhalalji on his work, recognizing the depth and maturity of Jaina logic. He notes that while the Jaina philosophical tradition initially maintained neutrality, the development of Jaina logic became essential to defend its principles against intellectual challenges from opposing schools.

Structure and Content:

The work is structured to systematically present Jaina logical principles, starting with the fundamental concept of valid knowledge, moving to the nuanced understanding of reality through different viewpoints, and concluding with the symbolic representation of concepts. It engages with and refutes the logic of various Indian philosophical schools, demonstrating the analytical rigor of Jaina thought. The book includes a literal English translation, critical notes, an index of Sanskrit words with their English meanings, and a bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

In essence, "Jaina Tarka Bhasha" by Yaśovijaya, as presented by Bhargava, is a foundational text that illuminates the Jaina path to understanding reality through rigorous logic, nuanced perspectives, and symbolic representation, all grounded in the principles of anekāntavāda (non-absolutism) and syādvāda (relativity).