Agam 05 Ang 05 Bhagvati Vyakhya Prajnapti Sutra Part 01 - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Agam 05 Ang 05 Bhagvati Vyakhya Prajnapti Sutra Part 01," based on the English translation and notes by K. C. Lalwani.

This summary covers the key aspects of the Bhagavati Sutra as presented in this volume, focusing on its content, philosophical underpinnings, and the translator's approach.

Book Title: Agam 05 Ang 05 Bhagvati Vyakhya Prajnapti Sutra Part 01 Author(s): K C Lalwani Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication Volume: Vol-1 (Śatakas 1-2)

I. Introduction and Context:

Significance: The Bhagavati Sutra, also known as Viahapanṇatti, is the fifth Jaina Agama and is considered an encyclopedic work of Jaina philosophy and science. Its title "Bhagavati" is an honorific adjective signifying its holy and important nature.
Content: The text is primarily in the form of questions and answers between Lord Mahāvīra and his chief disciple, Indrabhūti Gautama. It also includes dialogue-legend material (itihāsa-samvāda).
Scope: The volume covers the first two Satakas (Śatakas 1-2) of the original Sutra, which contain 41 Satakas in total, each comprising 10 Uddeśakas (Chapters).
Historical Context: The Sutra in its current form dates back to around 466-553 CE when the Fourth Jaina Council met at Valabhi. Prominent commentaries, such as Abhayadeva Suri's Vrtti (AD 1071), exist for this complex and voluminous text. Due to its magnitude, its study is typically permitted to advanced scholars.
Translator's Aim: K. C. Lalwani's translation aims to make the complete text of the Bhagavati Sutra accessible in English, preserving the original Ardha-Magadhi form as much as possible, to bridge the linguistic barrier and open a new window into Jaina scholarship.

II. Key Philosophical and Scientific Concepts Discussed (Based on Volume 1):

Karma Theory: The Sutra elaborates extensively on the karma theory, a fundamental principle of Jainism. It discusses:
- Karma Bondage: How karma binds the soul, distinguishing between karma that is moving out (active) and karma that is dormant.
- Karma Fructification: How karma yields its effects.
- Karma Stages: The process involves assimilation, absorption, fructification, suffering, and exhaustion, with stages like increase/decrease of effect, alteration, piling, and cementing of karmic matter.
- Types of Karma: Differentiating between karma that is moving out (which is exhausted) and karma that is dormant (which is not exhausted by mere movement).
Nature of Reality (Jain Hylozoism): Jainism posits a hylozoistic view of nature, believing that everything in the material world is a form of living organism. All these organisms are seen as evolving in their physical structures, modes of generation, and even in their thoughts and ideas.
Nature of the Soul: The soul is an active principle, conscious and responsible for its own actions. Jainism emphasizes the multiplicity of souls, each unique and capable of acquiring and exhausting karma.
Eternality of Matter and Soul: Both soul and matter are considered eternal. They transform and change due to circumstances, but their fundamental existence is everlasting. This negates the idea of original creation or destruction.
Methodology and Terminology: The Sutra's methodology is described as scientific for its time, using commonplace examples to illustrate complex concepts (e.g., a leaky boat for the cohesion of soul and matter). It is rich in terminology that could be useful for scientific treatises.
Anticipations of Modern Science: The Sutra is noted to contain anticipations of modern science, including the atomic theory and an exhaustive analysis of matter, as well as relevant concepts in mathematics, physics, cosmology, biology, and astronomy.
Types of Beings and Their Characteristics: The Sutra meticulously details various categories of living beings, their life-spans, breathing activities, intake of matter, physical dimensions, body types, and their karmic influences. This includes:
- Infernal Beings (Narakas): Their life-spans, breathing, intake, karma bondage, colour, tinge, activities, and suffering standards are analyzed.
- Celestial Beings: Different classes like Asurakumāras, Nāgakumāras, Vāṇavyantaras, Jyotiṣkas, and Vaimānikas are described with their lifespans, respirations, intake patterns, and the forms their ingested matter transforms into.
- One-Organ Beings: Earth-bodies, water-bodies, air-bodies, fire-bodies, and flora-bodies are discussed regarding their lifespans, respiration (often indeterminate), intake, and the transformation of matter.
- Two-, Three-, Four-, and Five-Organ Beings: Their characteristics, including lifespans, intake, and the influence of karma and tinges, are detailed.
- Human Beings: Compared with other categories, their activities, knowledge, and karma are discussed.
Harmfulness of Living Beings: The Sutra categorizes living beings based on whether they are harmful to themselves, others, both, or none, linking this to their level of restraint and activities.
Knowledge and Conduct: The Sutra clarifies that knowledge pertains to this birth, the next birth, or both, while conduct, penance, and restraint primarily apply to this birth.
Types of Death: A distinction is made between the death of the fool (resulting in prolonged cycles of existence due to various negative actions) and the death of the prudent (leading to restraint and eventual liberation).
Stages of Spiritual Progress: The text outlines the path of a monk, differentiating between the non-restrained and the restrained, and how different levels of discipline lead to progress or hinder liberation.
Karma and Life-Cycles: The Sutra analyzes the duration of stay in various life-cycles (hells, animal kingdoms, human existence, celestial abodes) and how different karmic conditions influence these durations.
The Nature of Creation and Existence: The dialogue with Arya Roha explores the eternal nature of existence, emphasizing that categories like space and non-space, soul and non-soul, are co-eternal and don't have a distinct prior or posterior beginning.
Physical Structure and Elements (Astikāyas): The fundamental components of the universe – dharma, adharma, ākāśa, jīva, and pudgala – are explained in terms of their substance, place, time, bhāva, and essential traits.
Samudghāta: Various types of conscious and unconscious spiritual processes by which karma is expelled from the soul are discussed.
Hot Springs and Natural Phenomena: The text touches upon natural phenomena like hot springs, relating them to spiritual practices and the formation of bodies.
Language: The nature and function of language are briefly touched upon.
Deities and Celestial Abodes: The Sutra describes various classes of celestial beings (devas) and their abodes (vimānas), their lifespans, and the conditions of their existence.
Procreation and Embryonic Development: The process of conception and the subsequent development of the embryo within the womb are described, including the first intake and the formation of bodily parts.
Skandaka's Story: A significant narrative within Book 1 involves Skandaka, a learned monk, who encounters Indrabhūti Gautama and Mahāvīra. Skandaka, initially ignorant of certain fundamental Jaina principles, is enlightened by Mahāvīra and ultimately embarks on a path of severe penance, leading to his liberation. This story highlights the transformative power of true knowledge and sincere spiritual practice.

III. Translator's Perspective:

Humility: K. C. Lalwani expresses humility in undertaking this monumental task, acknowledging the limitations of a single-handed effort on a work of such magnitude.
Preservation of Spirit: The primary goal is to convey the spirit of the original Ardha-Magadhi text accurately into English.
Scholarly Debate: The translator notes the diverse opinions of scholars regarding the Bhagavati Sutra's composition and content (e.g., B.C. Law, Winternitz, W. Schubring) but chooses to translate the text in its entirety without being swayed by these scholastic opinions.
Timeliness: The publication is timed to coincide with the 2500th anniversary of Bhagavān Mahāvīra's Nirvana, making it a timely contribution to Jaina studies.

IV. Overall Impression:

The Bhagavati Sutra, as presented in this volume, is a profound and intricate text that delves deeply into Jaina cosmology, ontology, ethics, and metaphysics. It systematically explores the intricate workings of karma, the nature of the soul and matter, and the diverse states of existence, providing detailed classifications and explanations. The translation by K. C. Lalwani aims to make this complex philosophical encyclopedia accessible to a wider audience, preserving its historical and spiritual significance.