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UGC NET PAPER 1 · UNIT 06 · MODULE 6: INDIAN LOGIC: OTHER PRAMANAS AND THEORIES OF ERROR · TOPIC 17

Anupalabdhi (Non-apprehension)

How absence is known: the four kinds of abhava with examples, and which schools accept anupalabdhi as a separate pramana.

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  • Topic 17 of 19

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  1. 17.1DefinitionDefinition: the pramana for knowing abhava (non-existence); the cognition of absence by the non-perception of what would be perceived if it were present ( yogya anupalabdhi…
    • Definition
    • abhava
    • yogya anupalabdhi
  2. 17.2Four Kinds of AbhavaKind Meaning Example Pragabhava Prior non-existence The pot in clay before it is made Pradhvamsabhava Posterior non-existence (destruction) The pot after it is broken…
    • Pragabhava
    • Pradhvamsabhava
    • Atyantabhava
    • Anyonyabhava
  3. 17.3Position of the SchoolsSchools: Bhatta Mimamsa (Kumarila) and Advaita Vedanta accept it as an independent pramana.
    • Schools
    • Bhatta Mimamsa (Kumarila)
    • Advaita Vedanta
    • Prabhakara
    • Nyaya

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17.1Definition#

In brief

Definition: the pramana for knowing abhava (non-existence); the cognition of absence by the non-perception of what would be perceived if it were present ( yogya anupalabdhi…

  • Definition
  • abhava
  • yogya anupalabdhi

Definition: the pramana for knowing abhava (non-existence); the cognition of absence by the non-perception of what would be perceived if it were present (yogya anupalabdhi, "fit non-perception").

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17.2Four Kinds of Abhava#

In brief

Kind Meaning Example Pragabhava Prior non-existence The pot in clay before it is made Pradhvamsabhava Posterior non-existence (destruction) The pot after it is broken…

  • Pragabhava
  • Pradhvamsabhava
  • Atyantabhava
  • Anyonyabhava
Kind Meaning Example
Pragabhava Prior non-existence The pot in clay before it is made
Pradhvamsabhava Posterior non-existence (destruction) The pot after it is broken
Atyantabhava Absolute (constant) non-existence The horn of a hare
Anyonyabhava Mutual non-existence (difference) A pot is not a cloth

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17.3Position of the Schools#

In brief

Schools: Bhatta Mimamsa (Kumarila) and Advaita Vedanta accept it as an independent pramana.

  • Schools
  • Bhatta Mimamsa (Kumarila)
  • Advaita Vedanta
  • Prabhakara
  • Nyaya
  • perception
  • anupalabdhi as a type of hetu

Schools: Bhatta Mimamsa (Kumarila) and Advaita Vedanta accept it as an independent pramana. Prabhakara explains absence as mere perception of the locus. Nyaya explains it as perception (through visheshana-visheshya-bhava contact). Buddhists treat anupalabdhi as a type of hetu (Dharmakirti) rather than a separate pramana.

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