Relationship between thread and cloth

[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

Hari Om,

Nyāya holds that the relationship between cloth (avayavī) and thread (avayava) is that of samavāya. As per them, avayavī is located in avayava through a different padārtha namely samavāya.

As per Tattvavāda of Madhvācārya, cloth is the kārya and thread are the kāraṇa. The relationship between kārya and kāraṇa is not very clear. While some texts such as Tattva-viveka and Mandāra Mañjarī clearly say that the relationship is that of bhedābheda and viśeṣa is not required, Nyāyāmṛta accepts the presence of viśeṣa. I will be greatful if some scholar of Tattvavāda clarifies the issue. It is however clear that Tattvavāda does not accept samavāya.

Regarding Advaita Vedānta, it is clearly explained in Brahma Sūtra that samavāya is plain inadmissible on account of anavasthā doṣa. Instead, the relationship is that of tādātmya and kārya is kāraṇātmaka. That is to say, cloth is thread-ātmaka. 

अपि च कार्यकारणयोर्द्रव्यगुणादीनां चाश्वमहिषवद्भेदबुद्ध्यभावात्तादात्म्यमभ्युपगन्तव्यम् ।

तथा अपृथक्स्वभावत्वे त्वयुतसिद्धत्वे, न द्रव्यगुणयोरात्मभेदः सम्भवति, तस्य तादात्म्येनैव प्रतीयमानत्वात् ॥

(Brahma Sūtra)

Analysis:

1. It is clear that threads in a certain configuration (warp-weft/ ātāna-vitāna) is called cloth. So, there is abheda between cloth and thread. However, it is also true that despite threads present without being in this configuration, there is no cloth. So, there is some difference between tantu and paṭa. Based on this, Tattvavāda accepts that there is bhedābheda between tantu and paṭa. However, Advaita holds that it is tādātmya (tat-ātmā).

2. Now, as per Advaita also, in tādātmya, this perception of abheda and bheda needs to be explained. 

Question:

1. What is the order of reality of abheda between tantu and paṭa in Advaita? Is it vyāvahārika-abheda or prātibhāsika-abheda?

2. What is the order of reality of bheda between tantu and paṭa in Advaita? Is is vyāvahārika-bheda or prātibhāsika-bheda?

3. We should not say that the relation is tādātmya and hence this determination of order of reality of abheda and bheda is not required. It is required because it is part and parcel of connotation of tādātmya.

Request learned members to share their views. 

Regards.

Sudhanshu Shekhar.