Telepathy in Hinduism is referred to as Manah Paryaya and is the direct perception and is treated as extra sensory perception in modern psychology. Jaina epistemology has classified knowledge as direct and indirect. Empirical knowledge and sense experiences are indirect, whereas avadhi (clairvoyance), manah-paryaya (telepathy), and kevala-jnana (omniscience) are direct to the being.
In the process of self-realization man acquires certain experiences and powers which are not possible for the common man with the normal function of sense organs. Almost all systems of Hindu philosophy except the Charvaka and Mimamsaka accept the possibility of such experiences.
Manah Paryaya is the direct experience of the mental modes working in other individual minds. Paraya means modification and manah means mind. So manah-paryaya is the cognition of modes of other’s minds. This telepathic experience is rare and difficult to get.
As per Hinduism, telepathic experience is rare and difficult to get. Only ascetics, who are supremely self-restrained and spiritually disciplined and exercise moral discipline of the highest kind, are believed to have this experience. Self-realized human beings with right attitude, free from passions, and those who have destroyed the karma obscuring manah-paryaya jnana alone can experience it. Divine and occult powers attainable by the yogis are analogous to such a description of manah paryaya jnani.
Rjumati and Vipulamati are the two types of manah-paryaya jnana. The latter is purer and lasts till the manifestation of omniscience. One who is sure to descend the ladder of spiritual development experiences the former type of manah-paryaya and one who is at the upward stage of spiritual development is likely to acquire the latter kind.