JAINA EPISTEMOLOGY : UMASVAMI'S TATTVADHIGAM-SUTRA.

The Tattvadhigama-sutra begins with the assertion that the path to emancipation consists of (acquiring) Right conviction (Samyak-darsana), Right knowledge (Samyak-jnana), and Right conduct (Samyak-caritra-I/1). Right conviction, Right knowledge, and Right conduct have, therefore, come to be known in jaina ethics as the three gems (triratna) that in a good life. In the very first sutra of Tattvadhigama-sutra, Umasvami state this cardinal teaching of jainaism.The path to liberation lies through right/conviction faith, knowledge and conduct. Liberation is the joint effect of these three.When we look at the Tattvadhigam-sutra, we come to know that Umasvami made no difference between the categories of knowledge and the means of valid knowledge. In other words, he did not differentiate jnana and pramana.He observes:Jnana is of five varieties, viz., Mati, Sruta, Avadhi, Manaparyaya, and Kevala. All these varieties are pramana. He did not mention any particular characteristic except 'Rightness' regarding the conception of pramana.He took jnana (right knowledge) and pramana as identical.