Aaptopadesha means authoritative statement. It is verbal comprehension or testimony of knowledge. This testimony is assertion by a trustworthy or authority in the concerned filed of knowledge termed as ‘aapta’. It is also known as “shabda” (statement). It is knowledge obtained from the expert person in the respective field. It is the authentic source of literary knowledge or the primary source of information related to any subject. This includes manuscripts or published documents like samhita, articles, journals etc. It is the primary and foremost means of knowledge that forms a base for other pramana and further knowledge.
In ancient times, the medium of knowledge transfer through generations was mainly verbal communication. The disciples had to memorize everything in the form of auditory memory (shruti). Thereafter, the veda (source of knowledge) were created in the form of manuscripts. Aaptopadesha or shabda includes the testimony of vedas with revealed knowledge that is obtained traditionally. Aaptopadesha or aaptapramana can be utilised as both a source of knowledge and tool to examine the collected, compiled or obtained knowledge. In current era, this authoritative form can be seen in the form of scientific lectures, research articles with a high impact in society.
| Section/Chapter/topic | Concepts / Aaptopadesha pramana |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bhojani M.K.1, Joglekar A.A.2 |
| Reviewer | Basisht G.3 |
| Editor | Deole Y.S.4 |
| Affiliations |
1 Department of Sharir Kriya, A.I.I.A. , New Delhi, India 2 Department of Samhita Siddhant, A.I.I.A. , New Delhi, India 3 Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar,India 4 Executive Editor and Professor in Kayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabhvidya Nagar, Anand, Gujarat, India |
| Correspondence email | carakasamhita@gmail.com, meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in |
| Date of first publication: | February 09, 2022 |
| DOI | under process |
Etymology and derivation
The verbal testimony or the knowledge given by higher authority ‘aapta’ is termed as ‘shabda’. Aapta is the one having absolute, authentic and authoritative knowledge about the subject matter.
The word Aaptopadesha is made by combination of two words ‘Aapta’ and ‘upadesha’.
Aapta: Aapta as one disseminating authentic knowledge (yathartha vakta).[Tarkasangraha][1] Aapta is a fit credible, authoritative person. It is also referred to guarantee, warrantee, clever, trustworthy, fit exact, credential individual. [Monnier Williams dictionary][2]
Upadesha: It refers to the teachings and instructions put-forth by learned authority. It literally means to instruct, specify, teach, inform, advice or to point out. [Monnier Williams dictionary][3]
Aagama: The term aagama denotes acquisition of knowledge, traditional doctrine, percept.[Monnier Williams dictionary][4]
Shabda: Upadesha (instructions) of learned are termed as ‘shabda’. [Nyayavartika],[5][Tarkasangraha][1] The term that can be read and spoken is termed as ‘shabda’.[Amarkosha][6]
Synonyms of Aaptopadesha
- Aagama [Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana 1/16][7]
- Aitihya [Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/41] Aitihyaisalaukika aaptopadesha (differing from the veda). [Chakrapani on Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/41]
- Shabda (Tarkasangraha , Shabdalakshana)[8]
4) Shishtha [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11/19] 5) Vibuddha [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11/19] 6) Aaptavachana [Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 4/4]
Definition of Aapta
Aapta are enlightened and knowledgeable individuals absolutely free from rajas and tamas (psychological doshas). Hence, they possess knowledge of past, present and future (trikala) and are known as authorities (aapta). They are also known as the wise (shishtha) and enlightened (vibuddha) individuals. Their words are considered absolute truth without any doubt. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 11/18-19] Here rajas are root cause of attachment or aversion and tamas is shadowing of ignorance both of which may hinder the knowledge in its true sense. This makes the knowledge obtained from aapta authoritative and reliable.
Aapta are free from doubts, they have unimpaired memory; they know things in their entirety by determinate experience. They see things without any attachment or affection (nishpriti and nirupatap). These qualities make their statements authentic and authoritative. On the other hand, the statements either true or false made by intoxicated (matta), mad (unmatta), illiterate (murkha) people and people with attachments are not to be considered as authoritative.[Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 4/4]
Aagama is defined as shastra or science preached by the aapta or knowledgeable people that can be validated or proved with the help of pramana and is universally applicable. It gives true meaning or essence of the science. [Dalhana on Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana 1/16][7]
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Annambhata, Tarkasangraha, Shabdapariccheda, edited by satkarisharma vangi, published by chaukhamba Sanskrit sansthan , Varanasi , page no.65
- ↑ MW Cologne Scan [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan 20]. Available from: https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/csl-apidev/servepdf.php?dict=MW&page=142
- ↑ MW Cologne Scan [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan 24]. Available from: https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/csl-apidev/servepdf.php?dict=mw&page=0199
- ↑ MW Cologne Scan [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan 20]. Available from: https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/csl-apidev/servepdf.php?dict=MW&page=129
- ↑ Vachaspati, Nyayavartika Teeka on Nyaya, Prathamadhyaya, Shabdalakshana, Shloka 7, printed published and sold by Jayakrishnadas haridas gupta, chaukhamba Sanskrit series office, Varanasi, page no. 200
- ↑ Amarsinha, Amarkosha, Prathama Kanda, Shabdadi Varga, 2nd Shloka, edited by hargovinda sharma, published by chaukhamba Sanskrit sansthan, Varanasi, page no. 81
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sushruta. Sushruta Samhita. Edited by Jadavaji Trikamji Aacharya. 8th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia;2005.
- ↑ Ibidem 5