Appendix
Jaina
literature, a Portrait
There are innumberable
works on Jaina literature. Right from the time of Mahavira to the present day many great
Jainacaryas and writers have written thousands of books. Acaryasri Umasvati has written
500 works. Sri Haribhadrasuri also has written 1444 books. Kalikalasarvajna
Hemacandracarya has a vast literature to his credit. Upadhyaya Srimad Yasovijayaji Maharaj
has composed 108 big works. Many learned sadhus have written innumerable books. The
Bhagavadgita is considered to be the most important work of Hindus, Kuran-e-sharif is the
chief work of Muslims and the Bible is the most sacred work of Christians. Similarly
Agamas are the most sacred and authentic literature of Jain religion. It is also known as
‘Sutra’, ‘Sastra’, ‘Siddhanta’ or ‘Nirgrantha
Pravacana’. Formerly there were 84 Agamas but now only 45 are existent. Among these
45 Agamas, the first Agama-anga is the Acaranga Sutra. This Anga contains a subtle and
sutra-style description of the pure conduct and thoughts of the Jain monks. Only this
great work can be considered a brief epitome or a representative of Jain literature. This
Acaranga-sutra, the main work of Jain literature, is written in the style of sutras. Being
written in sutras, its sutras are variously interpreted.
Bhagvan Mahavira gives the
essence of right knowledge in three words - upapannei va dhuvei va vigamei va (It is
produced, it remain permanent and it is destroyed). He gave his discourses in the
Ardhamagadhi langauage which could be understood even by ordinary people and childern. His
learned disciple Sudharmasvami and other Ganadharas (chief pupils) arragned his discourses
in the sutra form. There are 12 parts of his discourses which are known as angas.
11 Angas |
| 12 Upangas |
| 10 Payanna |
| 6 Chedasutras |
| 2 Sutras |
| 4 Mulasutras. |
11 Angas :
1. Acaranga
2. Sutrakratnga
3. Samvayanga
4. Thananga
5. Bhagavati
6. Jnatadharmkatha
7. Upasakadasa
8. Antakritdasa
9. Anuttaraupapatikadasa
10 . Prasna Vyakarana
11. Vipaka Sutra
12. Dristivada
(The 12th agnga is lost.) |
12 Upangas
1. Aupapatika
2. Rajaprsniya
3. Jivajivabhigama
4. Prajnapana
5. Jambudvipaprajnapti
6. Candraprajnapti.
7. Suryaprajnapti
8. Nirayavaliyao
9. Kalpavatanisika
10. Puspika
11. Puspaculika
12. Vrishnidasa |
10
Payanna
1. Catusasarana
2. Samstara
3. Aturapratyakhyana
4. Bhakta Praijna
5. Tandulaveyaliya
6. Candavijaya
7. Devendrastava
8. Ganividya
9. Mahapratyakhyana
10. Virastava |
6
Chedasutras
1. Nisitha
2. Mahanisitha
3. Vyavahara
4. Dasasutra Skandha
5. Bruhatkalpa
6. Jitakalpa |
2
Sutras
1. Nandi Sutra
2. Anuyoga-dvara |
4
Mulasutras
1. Avasyaka-oghaniryukti
2. Dasavaikalika
3. Oghaniryukti
4. Uttaradhyayana |
The Subjects
discussed in the Agamas are :
1.
Acaranga (The first Anga) - It contains discussions about knowledge, perception,
character, penances and power, etc. It describes ‘gocari’, Vinaya (education)
Siksa (training), language, good conduct, ceremonies etc.
2.
Sutrakrtanga. It discusses Loka, Aloka, Lokaloka, Jiva, Time and establishes the theory of
Anekantavada by refuting 363 views, (80) kriyavadas, (67) Ajnana Vadas and (32)
Vinayavadas).
3.
Sthananga - It discusses Jiva, Time, Loka and geography.
4.
Samavayanga. It discusses objects bearing nos. 1 to 101 and the form of the 12 angas.
5.
Bhagavatisutra deeply discussed Jiva, etc.
6.
Jnatadharma katha contains the stories of Jain devotees.
7.
Upasakadasa describes the lives of Sramanas.
8.
Antakritdasa contains the lives of souls about to be liberated.
9.
Prasnavyakarana conatins questions about Vidya-mantras and dialogues between gods.
10.
Vipakasutra discusses the causes of happiness and misery.
The 12th anga is Drstivada,
but it is lost.
Sudharmasvami alone has not
written all the agamas. Syamacarya, has written 4th Upangas, Shri Virbhadra Gani has
composed the Chatuhsaran sutra.
The names of the writers of
Payanna are not known. Bhadrabahusvami has writen all the Chedasutras except the first
two. Shri Haribhadrasuri has reconstructed Mahanisitha written by Sudharmasvami.
Devavacakagani is the author of Nandisutra, while Dasvaikalikasutra and Pindaniryukti are
written respectively by Svayambhavasuri and Bhadrabahusvmi.
The ascetics began to
forget the sutras on account of the weakening of memory. All the ascetics gathered
together in Pataliputra and collected all that was remembered by different ascetics. After
500 years. Arya Skandilacarya gave lectures on the sutras. They are known as ‘Mathuri
version’. In vira samvat 980, Devardhigani Ksamasramana called a council at
Vallabhipur (Vala) and put the doctrines of Jain Agamas on paper.
Thus the Agmas were written
for the first time. They are known as the ‘Vallabhi version’. Copies were made
and propagated at various places. The Agamodaya Samiti of Surat and other bodies have
published these 45 Agamas. Most of the agamas have been translated into Gujarati and other
languages.
These Agamas contain the
knowledge of various subjects. Many languages have come into existence by changes taking
place in the Prakrit language. The original Prakrit language cannot be understood properly
but these Agamas are available in Sanskrit, Apabhramsa, old Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi,
Kannada, Tamil, English and German languages.
Next to the Agamas,
Tattvarthadhigamasutra is a very valuable work for understanding Jain philosophy. Many
commentaries have been written on this work.
Saddarsanasamuccaya of Sri
Haribhadrasuri, Visesvasyakabhasya of Sri Jinabhadra Srimasramana, Pariksasutralughuvrtti
of Sri Anantavirya, Syadvada-manjari of Pramanansya Tattvalokalankara of Sri Mallisena and
Tarkarahasyadipika of Sri Gunaratna are other important works of Jain philosophy.
As philosophy and nyaya
(logic) are closely connected, it is sometimes difficult to separate the works on these
two subjects.
 |
Great
Writers on Jain Nyaya and their works : |
1. Sri Siddhasena
Divakara : (1) Sanmatitarka
(2) Nyayavatara
2. Sri
Mallavadisuri :
(1)
Dvadasaranayacakra and
(2)
Acommentary on sammati.
3. Sri
Haribhadrsuri. :
(1)
Ankekantajayapataka
(2)
Lalitavistara and
(3)
Dharmasangrahani.
4. Sri
Abhayadevasuri :
(1) A large commentary on
sanmatitarka
5. Sri Vadidevasuri
:
(1)
Syadvadaratnakara
6. Sri
Hemacandracarya :
(1) Pramanamimamsa
(2) Anyayogavyavahoda
dvatrinsika.
7. Sri Yosovijayaji
:
(1) Jain Tarkaparibhasa
(2) Dvatrinsad Dvatrinsika
(3) Dharma Pariksa
(4) Nayapradipa
(5) Nayamrtatarangini
(6) Khanda Khadya
(7) Nyayaloka
(8) Nayarashasya
(9) Nayopadesa
(10) Anekantavyavastha
(11) Tattvarthasutravrtti.
8. Sri
Gunaratnasuri :
(1) Saddarsana Samuccayavrtti.
9. Sri Candrasena :
(1) Unmaada siddhiprakarana
10. Sri
Candraprabhsuri :
(1) Pramayaratnakosa
11. Sri
Pandmasundara gani: (1)
Pramanasundraa
12. Sri Buddisagara
:
(1)
Prama laksmalksana
13. Sri Municandra
:
(1)Anekantavadajayapatakadippana
14. Sri Rajasekhara
:
(1)
Syadvadakalika
15. Sri
Ratnaprabhasuri :
(1) Ratnakaravatarika
16. Sri
Subhavijayaji :
(1)
Syadvadabhasa
17. Sri Santisuri :
(1) Pramanaprameyakalikavrti
Many writers of the
Digmbara sect, also have written on Nyaya.
 |
Works
on yoga and Adhyatma (Spiritualism) |
1.
Yogabindu 2. Yogadrstisamuccaya 3. Yogavinsika 4.
Yogasastra 5. Yogasataka 6. Yogasara 7.
Samadhisatya 8. Paramatmaprakasa 9. Samabhavana Sataka 10.
Dhyanasataka 11. Dhyansara
12. Dhyanadipik 13. Dhyanavicata 14.
Adhyatma upanisad
15. Adhyatmabindu 16. Adhyatmatarangini 17.
Adhyatmagita
18. Adhyatmakalpadruma 19. Jnanarnava, etc.
 |
Karma
Literature |
1.
Karmaprakti
2. Panca-sangraha
3. The ancient Karma works
4. The new Karma works
5. Karma works in Sanskit
6. Karmastavavivarana etc.
There are again many commentaries on these works.
 |
Literary
Works |
Jains have
contributed much to Indian literature. Many acaryas have written on grammar,
chhandassastra (prosody) Alankarasastra (poetics), poetry, drama, story, prabandha etc.
Sri Hemacandracarya worte the Siddhahemavyakarana (grammar) in order to compete with
Paninian Sanskrit grammar (Astadhyayi). Hemachandra has given the grammar of Prakrta and
Apabhransa in the eight chapters of his work. Sakyayana’s grammar is well known.
Jainendra Vyakarana of Devanandi is also known. Buddhisagaracarya, Jnanavimalagani and
Vidyananda suri have written Buddhisagar Vyakarana, Sabdapratibheda Vyakarana and
Siddhasarasvata Vyakarana respectively. Jainacaryas have also written many grammars on
Prakrit, Tamil and Kannada languages.
The Jains had absoulte
mastery of Gujarati language for hundreds of years. Besides innumerable works on poetry,
there are poems giving two meanings (Dvisandhana), three meanings (Trisandhana)...upto
seven meanings(saptasandhana). There is a work called Astalaksi which claims to give eight
lakh meanings of one verse ! Hemachandra has written works on prosody and poetics.
Vagbhata has also written Kavyalankara (a work on poetics), Namisadhu has written a
commentary on the famous Kavya, while Manikyacandrasuri has written a commentary
Kavyaprakasa Sanketa on the famous work on poetic - Kavyaprakasa of Mammata. Hemachandra
has compiled a number of dictionaries - Abhidhanacintamani, Anekarthakosa, Desinamamala,
Nighantu, etc. Linganusasana, Dhatumala Dhatuparayanam, Dhatupatha - all these works are
important aids to sanskrit grammar and linguisitcs, all written by Hemachandra. Dhananjaya
and Harsakirti have written respectively Dhananjaya namamala and Saradiyanamamala. Other
writers have also contributed to a large extent.
 |
Mahakavyas
(Epic poems) |
1.
There are many Mahakavyas (long poems) on the lives of the Tirthankaras : Sri
Santinathacaritra, Sri Neminathacaritra, Sri Parsvanathacaritra, Sri Vasupujyacaritra,
etc.
Other Kavyas are as follows :
2. Abhayadevasuri - Jayantavijayamahakaya
3. Amaracandrasuri - 1. Padmanandabhyudaya 2. Balabharata Mahakavya.
4. Udayaprabhasuri - Dharmabhyudaya Mahakavya
5. Jaysekharasuri - Jain Kurmarasambhava
6. Devaprabhasuri Maladhari - Pandavacaritra
7. Mahakavi Dhananjaya - Raghavapandaviya (This poem can be interpreted
as referring to episodes in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. It is a Dvisandhana Kavya).
8. Nayancandrasuri - Hammira Mahakavya
9. Padmacandra - Dharmabhyudaya
10. Manikyachandrasuri - 1. Parsvanathacurita 2. Nalayana Kavya 11.
Hemachandracarya - Two well-known mahakavyas
(1) Trisatisalakapurusa - caritra (2) Dvyastya Mahakavya. There is no end to Khandkavyas,
Stotras and Stitis.
 |
Dramas |
Dramas
written by Jain writies in Sanskrit are many. Some of these are as follows :
Reghuvilasa, Nalavilasa,
Raghavabhyudaya, Satyaharischandra, Kaumudicitrananda, Nirbhya-bhimavyayoga (Ramchandra,
well-known pupil of Hemachandracarya), Hammiramadamardana (Jayasinha), Rambhamanjari
(Nayachandrasuri), Mohaparajaya (asapala), Kumudachandra, Prabuddharauhineya,
Draupadisvayamvara, Dharmabhyudaya, etc.
|
Stories
(Katha) |
Sanskrit,
Prakrit and Gujarati languages are full of Jain stories. Among them the following are
well-known kathas
1.
Trisastisalakapurusacaritra and Parisistaparva by Hemachandraacarya.
2. Tarangalola of Padaliptacarya
3. Kvalymala of Udyotanasuri
4. Kathavali of Bhadresvarasuri
5. Vasudevahindi
6. Samaraiccakaha of Haribhadrasuri
7. Upamitibhavaprapancakatha of Siddharsigani
8. Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala
There are many versions of
Pancatantra, Kathakallola, Simhasana batrisi, Vetalapaccisi, Sukasptati composed by jain
acaryas.
There are more than 700
Rasas in Gujarati alone. There are a number of Prabandhas in Jain literature ; The
principal among them being : 1. Prabhandhacintamani of Merutungacarya 2.
Caturvinsatiprabandha of Rajasekharasuri 3. Prabhavakacarita of Prabhacandrasuri 5.
Puratanaprabandhasangraha by Bhadresvaracarya and 6. The Prabandhas of Mahakavi
Ramacandra.
Thus there are many works
of katha and Prabandha in Jain literature.
|
Works
on Arts and Science |
Jain
literature contains many works on architecuture, music, archery, testing of horses and
elephants, ornithology, testing of jewels, chemistry, ayurveda, astronomy, astrology, etc.
1. Architature - Many grand mansions and temples of Jains
show the skill of Jains in architecture. There are works like vastusara by Thakkar Feru,
Vastusastra by Bhojadeva and Prasadamandana.
2. Music - Sangitamayasara by Jainacarya
Parsvadeva, Sangitratnakara Sangita, Sangitaratnavali are works on music.
3. Testing of
Jewels - A French jeweller has
translated into French a work called ‘Ratnapariksa’. Hirakapariksa and
Samastaratnapariksa are other works on this subject.
4. Archery - Many works are available on archery,
testing of horses and elephants, and ornithology.
5. Mantras and
Trantras - Vidyanusasana is an
important work on mantras. There are many Kalpa works - Bhairavapadmavati Kalpa,
Sankhavartakalpa and Surimantrakalpa.
6. Astronomy and
Astrology - Bhadrabahusamhita
of Bhadrabahu is a work on astology. Jyotisasaroddhara of Harsakirti contains lots of
information about stars.
Arambhasiddhi, Ardhakanda, Candrarajju, Cakravivarana, Jatakadipika, Jyotisasarasangraha,
Bhuvanadipaka, etc. are other works. Rattasutra of Rattacarya enumerates the earlier signs
of rain, earthquake, lightning and other subjects.
7. Works on
Medicine - Ayurvedamahodadhi,
Cikitsotsava, Dravyavali, Pratapakalpa, Madhavarajpaddhati, Yogaratnakara, Ratnassagara,
Rasacintamani, Vaidakasaroddhara.
8. Mathematics - Among many works on Mathematics,
Ganitasarasangrah of Mahaviracarya (900 A.D.) has been translated into English.
9. Science of Omens
(Nimitta Sastra) - Among the
works on this science ‘Angavidya’ and ‘Ristasamuccaya’ of Durgadeva
give important information.
10. Vinayvijayaji
Maharaj has written -
‘Lokaprakasa’ a bibligraphical work which refers to 700 works.
In the colophons at the end
of each work, the acaryas provide information about their teacher, king, ministers,
gentlemen and the charitable works done by them. These colophones are important from
historical viewpoints. The various copy writers also give complete information about the
time of copying and other matters. Thus, these colophons are as authentic as the
inscriptions.
The whole writeup in this
article is done with reference to the Jain Svetambara Murtipujaka tradition.
- The 45 Agamas
- The subjects discussed in the Agmas
- The great writers of Jain Nyaya and their works
- Works on yoga and Adhyatma
- Karma literature
- Literary works
- Mahakavyas
- Dramas
- Stories
- Works on Arts and Science
This is the first
auspicious thing among all auspicious things.
