Philosophy In Jain Agams: Dṛṣṭivāda

This is the twelfth aṅga text of dvādaśāṅgī but unfortunately at present it is not available. Diṭṭhīvāya has two Sanskrit derivatives:

1. Dṛṣṭivāda
2. Dṛṣṭipāta

This text specially enumerates the views of different philosophers hence it is called by the name Dṛṣṭivāda. The second meaning is derived from the term 'Dṛṣṭipāta' because all the views of philosophers come in a string in this text. Sthānāṅga exhibits ten names of Dṛṣṭivāda. They are as follows:

There are five types or five sections of Dṛṣṭivāda- 1. Parikarma 2. Sūtra 3. Pūrvagata 4. Anuyoga 5. Cūlikā.

The meaning of Parikarma is to develop eligibility. As we have rules in mathematics and one who learns them can become eligible to study mathematics, similarly pūrvagata enables the person for the study of sūtra, pūrvagata etc.

The main and sub divisions of parikarma are lost entirely. Both aphorisms and meanings have become unavailable. Cūrṇikāra indicates that they can be discussed as per the traditions one believes in.

Sūtra is of twenty two types. According to Cūrṇīkāra, these sūtras bring forth the permutation and combination of options of all substances, all modes, all viewpoints and all possible options. They inform about the Pūrvagata śruta and their meanings. Hence, it is called as Sūtra.

Pūrvagata: There are multiple meanings attached to the word pūrva.

When Tīrthaṅkaras, deliver their sermon for the first time, four fold ford (tirtha) is established. The contents of that first discourse are compiled in pūrvagata. Since they are prior to all other teachings, they are called as pūrva (prior). There are fourteen pūrvas:

1. Utpāda - Living (jīva), non-living (ajīva), and its modes (paryāya)
2. Agrāyaṇīya - Nine realities (nava-tattva), six substances (ṣaḍ-dravya) etc.
3. Vīrya - Energy of soul, non-living etc.
4. Asti-nāsti - Multiplicity of views (Anekāntvāda), Saptabhaṅgi, etc.
5. Jñāna - Five types of knowledge and three types of ignorance etc.
6. Satya - Relating to truth, restraint, silence (Mauna), speech, etc.
7. Ātma - Analysis of soul from different  view points (naya)
8. Karma - Theory of karma, its bondage, influx, nature, fruition, shedding
9. Pratyākhyāna - Formal resolve of abstinence
10. Vidyā- Expertise (vidyā), exceptional abilities and their practice
11. Avandhya - Spiritual vigilence (Apramāda) and remissness (Pramāda)
12. Prāṇāyu - Ten types of life substances or vitalities (Prāṇa), life span etc.
13. Kriyāviśāla - Skills, 64 arts of women, 84 arts of men etc.
14. Lokabindusāra - Three parts of universe including heavens and hells, mathematics etc.^[1]  

Anuyoga has two sections:

1. Mūla prathamānuyoga - It provides the description of Arhat's tirthankara's life.
2. Gaṇḍikānuyoga or Kaṇḍikānuyoga - In this, there is a description of life etc. of kulakaras (group heads) and many other people.

Gaṇḍikānuyoga is not only a biographical text but it is a volume of historical facts too. Cūrṇikāra and Malayagiri derive the meaning of gaṇḍikā as khaṇḍa i.e. a part. As the sugarcane possesses knots in between and the fruit-pulp that lies within those knots is called gaṇḍikā, simlarly, the text which has only one person as a subject of discussion, is called as gaṇḍikā or kaṇḍikā.

Cūlikā is nothing but an appendix in modern terminology. Cūrṇikāra states that the subjects that have not been dealt with in parikarma, sūtra, pūrva and anuyoga have been compiled in cūlikā. Haribhadra Suri opines that it includes the material of both kinds i.e. said and unsaid.^[2] At present, this text is unavailable.