UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Alaukika pratyaksha encompasses forms of perception that transcend ordinary sensory mechanisms, such as samanyalaksana, jnanalaksana and yogaja perception. These involve special kinds of connections or powers that allow awareness of universals, cross-modal properties or distant objects. Nyaya treats them as exceptional yet still perceptual in character. Thus the collective label for such extraordinary perceptions is alaukika pratyaksha.

Option A:
Option A, laukika, applies only to ordinary empirical perception and stands in contrast to the special cases mentioned in the stem. It is therefore the opposite class.

Option B:
Option B, nirvikalpa, focuses on the level of conceptual articulation and can occur in both ordinary and extraordinary perception, so it does not name the special group of perceptions as such.

Option C:
Option C, savikalpa, again concerns determinacy and may describe either laukika or alaukika perceptions, so it is not the correct classification term here.

Option D:
Option D is correct because alaukika literally means "non-worldly" and is explicitly used in Nyaya to designate these extraordinary perceptual experiences.