Śruta-jñāna and Avadhi-jñāna
Śruta-jñāna (Scriptural Knowledge)
Sūtra 1.20 – śrutaṁ matipūrvaṁ dvy-aneka-dvādaśa-bhedam
- Meaning: Śruta-jñāna (scriptural knowledge) is always preceded by Mati-jñāna (sensory knowledge).
- Divisions: It has 2, many, and 12 types of classifications.
Types of Śruta-jñāna:
- Aṅgapravista (Included in the canonical Aṅgas)
- Aṅgabāhya (Outside the Aṅgas)
Avadhi-jñāna (Clairvoyant Knowledge)
Sūtra 1.21 – bhava-pratyayo ’vadhir deva-narakāṇām
- Meaning: Avadhi-jñāna is of two kinds based on cause:
- Bhava-pratyaya – natural, arising due to birth or destiny.
- Found in Devas (celestial beings) and Nārakis (hellish beings).
- Guṇa-pratyaya – acquired through austerities, vows, and purity of conduct.
- Found in humans and animals.
- Bhava-pratyaya – natural, arising due to birth or destiny.
Types of Guṇa-pratyaya Avadhi-jñāna
Sūtra 1.22 – kṣayopaśama-nimittaḥ ṣaḍ-vikalpaḥ śeṣāṇām
- Meaning: For humans and animals (śeṣa-jīvas), Avadhi-jñāna arises from the destruction-cum-subsidence (kṣayopaśama) of knowledge-obscuring karma.
- It has 6 varieties under Deśāvadhi.
Three Main Types of Avadhi-jñāna
- Deśāvadhi-jñāna (Limited Clairvoyance)
- Knowledge limited by substance, space, time, or modes.
- 6 Subtypes:
- Anugāmī – continues with soul to another body or realm.
- Bhavānugāmī (continues across births).
- Kṣetrānugāmī (continues across regions).
- Ananugāmī – does not continue to another realm or birth.
- Vardhamāna – increases gradually (like waxing moon).
- Hīyamāna – decreases gradually (like waning moon).
- Avasthita – remains steady (like the sun).
- Anavasthita – fluctuating, irregular (like water waves).
- Anugāmī – continues with soul to another body or realm.
- Paramāvadhi-jñāna (Supreme Clairvoyance)
- Extends to countless regions of the universe.
- Attained by highly advanced ascetics, leading towards liberation.
- Has 3 varieties – inferior (jaghanya), superior (utkṛṣṭa), and intermediate (jaghanyotkṛṣṭa).
- Sarvāvadhi-jñāna (Complete Clairvoyance)
- Highest form of Avadhi, nearing Kevalajñāna.
- Subject matter covers all knowables, hence called “Sarva”.
- Found in Digambara monks who are about to attain omniscience (Kevalajñāna).
- Only 1 type.
Summary Table
| Type of Avadhi | Who Attains | Subdivisions | Analogy / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhava-pratyaya | Devas & Nārakis | By nature of birth | Destiny-based |
| Guṇa-pratyaya | Humans & Animals | By vows, penances | Conduct-based |
| Deśāvadhi | Humans, Animals | 6 (Anugāmī, Ananugāmī, Vardhamāna, Hīyamāna, Avasthita, Anavasthita) | Waxing/waning moon, sun, waves |
| Paramāvadhi | Ascetics near liberation | 3 (low, high, mixed) | Boundless regions |
| Sarvāvadhi | Highest ascetics | 1 | Closest to Kevalajñāna |
Manaḥparyaya-jñāna (Telepathic Knowledge)
Types of Manaḥparyaya-jñāna
Sūtra 1.23 – ṛju-vipulamati manaḥparyayaḥ
- Meaning: Manaḥparyaya-jñāna is of two types:
- Ṛju-mati (Straightforward Telepathy)
- Direct knowledge of simple, clearly contemplated thoughts in another’s mind.
- Example: knowing someone’s clear, uncomplicated intention.
- Vipula-mati (Profound Telepathy)
- Knowledge of subtle, complex, or deeply hidden thoughts in another’s mind.
- Example: perceiving complex plans or inner dilemmas of someone’s consciousness.
- Ṛju-mati (Straightforward Telepathy)
Difference between Ṛju-mati and Vipula-mati
Sūtra 1.24 – viśuddhy-apratipātābhyāṁ tad-viśeṣaḥ
- Meaning: The difference lies in purity (viśuddhi) and stability (apratipāta).
- Viśuddhi (Purity): Clarity of soul produced by subsidence-cum-destruction of karma.
- Apratipāta (Non-decline): Once attained, it does not regress or fall away.
Comparison:
- Ṛju-mati → Less pure, can be lost (decline possible).
- Vipula-mati → More pure, remains until Kevalajñāna (Omniscience).
Difference between Avadhi-jñāna & Manaḥparyaya-jñāna
Sūtra 1.25 – viśuddhi-kṣetra-svāmi-viṣayebhyo ’vadhi manaḥparyayaḥ
- Basis of Difference:
- Viśuddhi (Purity): Manaḥparyaya is purer than Avadhi.
- Kṣetra (Range):
- Avadhi: vast (extends across three worlds).
- Manaḥparyaya: limited (about 2.25 million miles – 4.5 million yojanas, i.e., the region of Jambūdvīpa).
- Svāmī (Owner of Thoughts):
- Avadhi: relates to many beings, across realms.
- Manaḥparyaya: relates only to specific individuals (their thoughts).
- Viṣaya (Subject Matter):
- Avadhi: deals with external, gross objects (matter, events).
- Manaḥparyaya: deals with subtle, internal objects (mental states).
Attainment of Manaḥparyaya-jñāna
- Found only in highly advanced Digambara monks, from Pramatta-samyata (7th guṇasthāna, careful ascetic stage) up to Kṣīṇa-kaṣāya (12th guṇasthāna, complete annihilation of passions).
- Not attained by Devas, Nārakis, or laypersons.
Hierarchy of Knowledge (in Guṇasthānas)
| Type of Knowledge | Who Attains | Stages (Guṇasthāna) |
|---|---|---|
| Mati-jñāna (Sensory) | All beings | 4th to 12th |
| Śruta-jñāna (Scriptural) | All beings | 4th to 12th |
| Avadhi-jñāna (Clairvoyance) | Humans, animals, devas, nārakis | 4th to 12th |
| Manaḥparyaya-jñāna (Telepathy) | Only advanced monks | 7th to 12th |
| Kevala-jñāna (Omniscience) | Arihants, Siddhas | 13th to 14th |
Sutra 32 and 33
English explanation of Tattvarth Sutra
Chapter 1 – Sutra 1 to 5 | Sutra 6 to 12 | Sutra 13 to 19 | Sutra 20 to 25 | Sutra 26 to 31 | Sutra 32 and 33

