Jiva

MIND, MATTER AND GOD : JIVA, JADA AND ISVARA
M.M.NINAN
Anavam, Karmam and Mayai are inanimated. These elements are not capable of
knowing anything even if it is taught. God and souls are animated. God as all knowing
and souls, capable of knowing when taught.
From the beginingless period, souls were depending on Anavam and concealed the
knowledge of the soul. God took pity ( KARUNAI) on souls and created bodies (Thanu,
Karanam, Buvanam, Bhogam) from Maya to enlighten the souls.
All five elements or categories are inter-connected. In a logical way of approach, a
perfect philosophy which deals with ultimate reality, must accept the existence of the
above five categories.
Perception of truth
PRAMANAM or perception of truth is how Saiva Siddhantam maintains many more
logical evidences to ensure the existence of the five eternal elements.
i. Direct experience by the five senses called Prathyaksha Pramanam
Knowledge of things directly by five senses; this knowledge is free from error and doubt.
ii. Inference by mind called Anumana Pramanam
With our previous knowledge of things, we can infer the cause while the effect is
present in the cause itself. Fire and smoke theory.
iii. Verbal testimony of Sacred books of Saivism called Agama Pramanam
Verbal testimony of Sacred books, the words of Saints sent by Lord Siva. These are
taught by Lord to enlighten souls.
Behind all evidences, the intelligence of the individual soul is highly considered to be the
means of valid knowledge. The real evidence of truth is in the enquiry of each individual
to find out the truth for himself. It is proved beyond doubts that Saiva Siddhanta has
bestowed the right to the respective individual soul to decide the existence of categories
on the validity of their own knowledge.
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