Explain the view regarding Omniscience (Sabbannuta) prevalent in the society of the 6th BC in

India and investigate on --- the Buddha reject that the claimed for such Omniscience.
During the 6th BC in India, some religious teachers such as Nigantha Natha Putta and
Purana Kassapa claimed that they were omniscient. They claimed of possessing all forms of
knowledge (sabbannu) all seeing (sabbadassavi) professes unlimited knowledge and vision by
saying whether I am walking or standing still or asleep or awake, knowledge and vision
permanently and continuously before me.
But In the Tevijja Vecchagota sutta, the Buddha denied this kind of Sabbannu and received
only three kinds of knowledge (Sabbannu): Pubbenivasa nussati, Dibba cakkhu and
Asavakkhaya ( Tevijjo Samano Gotamo). The Kannakatthalasutta of MN states that there is
neither a recluse nor a Brahmin who knows all can see all at the same time. Further in the
Sabbasutta of SN the Buddha says that he knows everything within this fathom long body. This is
the difference between the Buddha and Nigantha.
However we can trace more in the Nikayas to prove that the Buddha also was an
Omniscient for this we can use two terms. Furthermore, we find the terms like Sabbavidu,
Sabbadassavi, Sabbabhibhu in canonical texts. Sabba means all or everything. In the Sabbasutta
the term Sabba is defined as Pancakkhanda, Dvadasayatana, Attharasadhatu. The Papancasudani
gives the meaning of Anavasesa as without remainder.
In Samyuttanikayaatthakatha, Buddhaghosa says; sabbabhibhuti sabbani khand
ayatana-dhatu-bhava-yoga-gati-adini abhibhavitva thiti. These definitions of Sabba are
apparently derived from Pts.
The Dhammasanganiattakatha states that the Buddhas knowledge is limitless. The
commentaries talk of the Buddhas Sabbannu in the sense of adverting his mind to any object he
wishes to know.
Sadhammappakasini mentions that Sabbannuta arises because of the dependence on
adverting the mind to all Dhammas. The Saddhammappakasini and Saddhammapaj jotika
mention 5 kinds of Sabbannu, 1. Kamasabbannua - one who knows everything gradually, 2.
Sakimsabbannu at once, 3. Satatasabbannu -continuously, 4. Sattisabbannu -energetically, and 5.
Natasabbannu- one who knows everything that has been realized. These are not found in any other
commentaries.
At the same time, Milidapanha also says that the Buddha is omniscient only in the sense of
bending his mind to the object he wants to know, not knowing things at the same time. But his
knowledge is limitless within the range of his ability to know. He knows everything within that
range. Kamasabbannu and Sakimsabbannu are directly rejected by Tharavadins, particularly
by Dhammapala.
According to the Anguttara nikaya (A.N.430) the five kinds of love objects are called the
world in Buddhism and in the code of the Noble One as well. They are Forms, cognised by the
eye: agreeable (ittha), pleasant (Kanta), desirable (manapa), connected with pleasures
(Kamupasamhita), lustful (rajaniya), Sounds cognised by ear, Smell cognised by nose, Taste
cognised by tongue, Contact cognised by body. This shows that one is mindful of the world with
five kinds of love objects. Therefore, if anyone comprehends these five objects he can be called
Sabbannu.
Here , we can come to a conclusion that the concept of sabbannu has been a wrong concept
from the very beginning but the Buddha modified it. However, we can say the Buddha also a
sabbannu on the basis of the facts he is fully enlightened(Sammasambuddho).
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