Sense organs (indriyas) and the Experience of Objects (visaya-grahana)

Sense organs (indriyas) and the experience of objects (visaya-grahana)—Patanjala-yogasutra-bhashya-vivarana mentions about ten indriyas viz., five jnanendriyas and five karmendriyas. The former represents the means of knowledge and the latter the means of action. According to Vivaranakara, mind is capable of perceiving objects of senses even without the help of these sense- organs. When ears are covered, one is able to experience sound (pihitakarnavivarasya ghosopalambhat). Likewise, one sees forms (shapes, colours) and so on, are perceived without the help of senses through knowledge gained from propositions (pratijnajnanena). Vivaranakara states that, the process of memory and dream does not depend on senseorgans. In these processes, senses are not active and yet there is experience of objects. Therefore, Vivaranakara concludes that, as for those who belong to the world (human beings), they being inferior, their minds need the assistance of sense-organs, as their power, strength and knowledge have impurity of ignorance." 77 Patanjala-yogasutra-bhashya-vivarana describes about the process of knowing beyond the range of senses (atindriyagrahana). It is described that, the grasp which is beyond the range of senses is threefold 78 167

viz., that which is subtle (suksmavisaya), hidden (vyavahitavisaya) and distant (viprakrstavisaya).