Agam 03 Ang 03 Sthanang Sutra Shwetambar Agam Guna Manjusha

The provided text is a section of the Shwetambar Jain Agam, specifically the Sthananga Sutra, within a commentary or collection called "Agama Guna Manjusha" authored by Gunsagarsuri. The document details the structure and content of various Jain scriptures, focusing on the Sthananga Sutra itself.

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided pages:

Overall Context:

• The document appears to be part of a larger work aimed at explaining the 45 Agamas of Jainism, intended for private and personal use.
• The specific focus is on the Sthananga Sutra (Āgam 03, Anga 03), which is presented as a crucial text within the Jain canon.
• The text provides a brief introduction to the 11 Angas, 12 Upangas, 10 Pāyanna Sutras, 6 Cheda Sutras, and 4 Mūla Sutras, outlining their general themes and approximate verse counts.
• The majority of the provided text is a detailed breakdown of the Sthananga Sutra itself, chapter by chapter (Sthana by Sthana), outlining the topics covered within each of the ten Sthanas.
• The final pages present the original text of the first chapter (Ekāshthāna / Adhyayana 1) of the Sthananga Sutra in Prakrit/Apabhramsa.

Key Information about the Sthananga Sutra (Thānānga Sūtra):

• Title: Sri Sthananga Sutra (Sri Agama Guna Manjusa)
• Author/Editor: Achalgachhadhipati P.P. A. Bh. Sw. Shri Gunasagar Surishwarji M.Sa. (as the inspirational editor).
• Publisher: Jina Goyam Guna Sarvodaya Trust, Mumbai.
• Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/003253/1
• Nature: It is considered a foundational text, often referred to as the "key to all Agamas." It is recommended to start with this text for learning the Agamas.
• Content: The Sthananga Sutra primarily deals with numerical classifications and lists, covering various aspects of Jain philosophy, cosmology, ethics, and practices. It is structured around ten "Sthanas" (places or categories).
• Style: The text highlights its unique style, particularly the Sthananga Sutra's approach, which spans across all four "Anuyogas" (scriptural classifications: Dravyanuyoga, Ganitanuyoga, Dharmakathanuyoga, and Charanakarmanuyoga), with a strong emphasis on Ganitanuyoga (mathematics and calculation).
• Verse Count: It is stated to contain approximately 7600 verses.

Detailed Breakdown of the Sthananga Sutra's Content (Sthanas):

The text meticulously outlines the topics discussed in each of the ten Sthanas of the Sthananga Sutra. While the full detail of every single point is extensive, here's a summary of the primary themes in each Sthana:

• First Sthana (Ekāshthāna): Introduces various concepts from the perspective of "one" (e.g., one soul, one world, one dharma, one punishment, one liberation, one mind). It covers philosophical points and basic classifications. (Pages 8-9)
• Second Sthana (Dvisthāna): Deals with duality and categories of "two" (e.g., two types of substances in the world - soul and non-soul, two types of actions, two types of knowledge, two types of direction, two types of souls, two types of creation). (Page 8)
• Third Sthana (Trividhā): Focuses on categories of "three" (e.g., three types of Indra, three types of Bhavaloka, three causes of karma, three types of speech, three types of conduct, three types of certainty, three types of stories, three types of certainty). (Pages 9-10)
• Fourth Sthana (Chatushthāna): Discusses categories of "four" (e.g., four types of endings leading to liberation, four types of restraint, four types of anger, four types of food for souls, four types of travelers, four types of karma for the soul, four types of knowledge). (Pages 10-13)
• Fifth Sthana (Pan̄casthāna): Covers categories of "five" (e.g., five great vows, five vows for householders, five types of knowledge, five types of faith, five types of conduct, five types of asceticism, five types of detachment, five types of spiritual practices, five types of penance, five types of religious observances, five types of religious practices of monks, five types of conduct of monks, five types of conduct of ascetics). (Pages 13-17)
• Sixth Sthana ( Shashthā): Deals with categories of "six" (e.g., six types of souls, six directions, six types of senses, six types of karma, six types of knowledge, six types of conduct, six types of faith, six types of vows, six types of penance, six types of religious observances, six types of practices of monks, six types of conduct of monks, six types of conduct of ascetics). (Pages 17-20)
• Seventh Sthana (Saptasthāna): Explores categories of "seven" (e.g., seven types of hells, seven continents, seven seas, seven major mountains, seven types of knowledge, seven types of conduct, seven types of faith, seven types of vows, seven types of penance, seven types of religious observances, seven types of practices of monks, seven types of conduct of monks, seven types of conduct of ascetics). (Pages 20-22)
• Eighth Sthana (Ashthā): Details categories of "eight" (e.g., eight types of hells, eight types of continents, eight types of seas, eight major mountains, eight types of knowledge, eight types of conduct, eight types of faith, eight types of vows, eight types of penance, eight types of religious observances, eight types of practices of monks, eight types of conduct of monks, eight types of conduct of ascetics). (Pages 22-27)
• Ninth Sthana (Navasthāna): Focuses on categories of "nine" (e.g., nine types of hells, nine types of continents, nine types of seas, nine major mountains, nine types of knowledge, nine types of conduct, nine types of faith, nine types of vows, nine types of penance, nine types of religious observances, nine types of practices of monks, nine types of conduct of monks, nine types of conduct of ascetics). (Pages 27-31)
• Tenth Sthana (Dashasthāna): Covers categories of "ten" (e.g., ten types of hells, ten types of continents, ten types of seas, ten major mountains, ten types of knowledge, ten types of conduct, ten types of faith, ten types of vows, ten types of penance, ten types of religious observances, ten types of practices of monks, ten types of conduct of monks, ten types of conduct of ascetics). (Pages 31-38)

Prakrit Text of the First Chapter (Ekāshthāna / Adhyayana 1):

• The text concludes with the original Prakrit/Apabhramsa verses of the first chapter, starting with obeisance to various spiritual figures and then listing various concepts categorized under "one" (e.g., Āyā, Daṇḍa, Kriyā, Loka, Aloka, Dharma, Adharma, Bandha, Moksha, Puṇya, Pāpa, Āsrava, Samvara, Vedanā, Nirjarā, Jīva, Pudgala, Mana, Vachī, Kāyavāyā, etc.).

Overall Significance:

The document serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the structure and content of the Sthananga Sutra, highlighting its systematic enumeration of Jain principles and concepts based on numerical categories. It emphasizes the text's importance in initiating the study of the Jain Agamas.