Nyaya-Vaisheshika categories (Study)

by Diptimani Goswami | 2014 | 61,072 words

This page relates ‘Visheshanata Sambandha (Attributive Relation)’ of the study on the Nyaya-Vaisheshika categories with special reference to the Tarkasangraha by Annambhatta. Both Nyaya and Vaisesika are schools of ancient Indian Philosophy, and accepted in their system various padarthas or objects of valid knowledge. This study investigates how the Tarkasamgraha reflects these categories in the combined Nyayavaisesika school.

Viśeṣaṇatā Sambandha (Attributive Relation)

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Viśeṣaṇatā sambandha is a kind of vṛttiniyāmaka relation. It has two kinds—

abhāviya-viśeṣaṇatā-viśeṣa-sambandha and
kālika-viśeṣaṇatā-viśeṣa-sambandha.

The abhāviyaviśeṣaṇatā-viśeṣa-sambandha is found in the case of the event of an abhāva. The kālika-viśeṣaṇatā-viśeṣa-sambandha is found in the case of the event of objects in a part of time (khanda-kāla) or universal time (mahākāla).^[1]

Abhāviya-viśeṣaṇatā-viśeṣa-sambandha (Relation Pertaining to the Non-existence)

It is known as abhāviyaviśeṣaṇatā because it is the same as the abhāva of a viśeṣaṇa (qualifier) as in the cognition bhūtale ghaṭo nāsti. In this, ghaṭābhāva (absence of jar) is the qualifier (viśeṣaṇa) of the ground and bhūtala is the object qualified (viśeṣya).^[2] This sambandha (relation) is called to be abhāviyaviśeṣaṇatāsambandha as viśeṣaṇata is established through abhāva, it is also called viśeṣa (particular) as there is some special feature for which this sambandha (relation) differs from other sambandhas (relation).^[3]

Kālika-viśeṣaṇatā–sambandha (Temporal Relation)

Kālika-viśeṣaṇatā-sambandha has a important role in the Navya-Nyāya system. Because this sambandha is establish in the Navya-Nyāya system. According to the Naiyāyikas all things are produced in relation to kāla. Hence, kāla is considered to an efficient cause of things which are produced. It is also considered as the substratum of all. Kāla brings about the relation between all things with the motion of the sun as is perceived by all. The notion that eternal substances like ether etc. exist always, is possible only because of their relation with kāla only because of their relation with kāla. At the time of dissolution, all eternal categories remain in Mahākāla by the kālika relation.^[4]