Agam 05 Ang 05 Study Of Bhagvati Vyakhya Prajnapti Sutra

This comprehensive summary synthesizes information from the provided Jain text, "A Study of the Bhagavatisutra: A Chronological Analysis" by Suzuko Ohira, published by the Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad in 1994.

Book Overview:

The book, published as Prakrit Text Series No. 28, is a meticulous chronological analysis of the Bhagavatisutra, specifically focusing on its first twenty (Satakas) chapters. The author, Suzuko Ohira, aims to understand the Bhagavatisutra's position within the broader Jaina canonical literature by examining the development of thought throughout the canonical period. The study stratifies these canonical texts into five stages to establish criteria for dating the Bhagavatisutra's contents.

Key Arguments and Methodology:

• Canonical Text Stratification: Ohira divides the Jaina canonical period into five stages (6th-5th centuries B.C. to 5th century A.D.) based on the development of thought and content within various canonical texts. This framework serves as the foundation for dating the Bhagavatisutra's sutras.
• Bhagavatisutra's Structure and Complexity: The Bhagavatisutra is identified as a complex text, with its canonical position as the "fifth anga" being nominal. It is closely related to upanga texts like the Prajnapana. The text itself occupies over a fifth of the Svetambara canon and is described as a collection of fragmentary passages on Jiva-ajiva covering diverse knowledge areas developed over 1000 years of the canonical period. The author notes that the Bhagavatisutra's chronological layers are "hopelessly entangled."
• Focus on the "Nucleus": Ohira's primary objective is the chronological stratification of the first twenty Satakas (chapters), which are believed to constitute the Bhagavatisutra's nucleus. This nucleus is estimated to contain around 700 sutras.
• Systematic and Historical Analysis: The study adopts a systematic approach by first arranging the Bhagavatisutra's contents subject-wise (Cosmology, Ajiva, Jiva, Ethical Problems, Karma, Jaina Church) and then applying a historical and chronological analysis to determine the age of individual sutras or groups of sutras.
• Criteria for Dating: The dating relies on the evolution of concepts and doctrinal positions as observed in the broader canonical literature. The presence of specific concepts, their theoretical development, and their relation to other canonical texts are crucial in assigning a particular sataka or sutra to a specific canonical stage.
• Interrelation with Other Canonical Texts: The study extensively compares the Bhagavatisutra's contents with other Jaina canonical texts, including the Acaranga, Sutrakrtanga, Uttaradhyayana, Dasavaikalika, Dasasrūtāskandha, Brhatkalpa, Vyavahara, Nisitha, Prajnapana, Jivajivabhigama, Jambudvipa prajnapti, and Dvipasagara prajnapti. The Bhagavatisutra is noted for absorbing significant portions of these Pannatti texts.
• Evolution of Concepts: The book traces the evolution of key Jaina concepts such as karma, jiva, ajiva, pudgala, pradeśa, pancastikayas, lesya, jnana, kriya, vaira, and the Jaina cosmology. The study highlights how these concepts developed from primitive ideas to more sophisticated theories over the canonical period.
• The Bhagavatisutra's Role: Ohira emphasizes the Bhagavatisutra's importance as a "treasure house of key texts" that are indispensable for understanding the evolution of Jaina doctrines. It serves as a foundational text that preserves early, often fragmentary, ideas that were later systematized in other canonical works. The text also plays a crucial role in attracting and educating lay followers through its stories.
• The Third Valabhi Council: The Council is identified as a key event in the finalization and editing of the Bhagavatisutra, contributing to its structure, inclusion of story texts, and the arrangement of its contents.

Key Findings on the Bhagavatisutra's Chronology and Content:

• Nucleus: The first twenty Satakas form the nucleus, likely compiled around the time of the Second Canonical Council (around the 1st century B.C. to 3rd century A.D.).
• Later Additions: Satakas XXI-XLI are generally considered to be from the fifth canonical stage, exhibiting a more systematic structure and absorbing materials from the Pannatti texts.
• Subject Matter: The Bhagavatisutra covers a wide range of Jaina philosophy, including:
  • Cosmology: Loka-aloka, its structure, size, regions, and the theory of directions. It notes the Jainas' adoption and modification of Hindu cosmographical models.
  • Ajiva: The realities of pancastikayas (dharma, adharma, akasa, jiva, pudgala) and addhasamaya. The origin of dharma and adharma is traced to the influence of adrsta from the Vaiseṣikas, adapted to explain the limitations of liberated souls' movement and the Jaina cosmographical dualism. The theory of pradeśa is highlighted as a unique Jaina contribution to understanding pudgala.
  • Jiva: Detailed classifications of beings, their physical aspects (ahara, sarira, veda, life span), psychical aspects (sanjna, lesya, jnana), and cosmic aspects (population, mobility, rebirth). The study meticulously dates various concepts related to jiva.
  • Ethical Problems: Actions (kriya), including the eighteen kriyas, the five kriyas, and iryapatha-samparayika kriyas. The concept of "calamane calie" (action in progress is completed action) is explored as a unique Jaina ethical proposition originating in the Bhagavatisutra and later debated. The development of vows (vratas) and the complexities of ascetic conduct are analyzed.
  • Karma: The Bhagavatisutra provides crucial insights into the evolution of the Jaina karma theory, from the early concept of vaira to the more developed karma prakṛtis. The study traces the mechanisms of bandha (bondage), vedana (experience), and nirjara (purging), highlighting the gradual formulation of the fourfold divisions of karma bondage (prakrti, sthiti, anubhava, pradeśa).
  • Jaina Church: The book discusses the emergence of the Jaina church structure, the lives of Tirthankaras (especially Mahavira), his disciples, relatives, and rivals like Gosala. The inclusion of historical and mythological elements reflects the church's efforts to establish its identity and superiority. The "X-sutras" are identified as passages that directly reference later Pannatti texts.
• Chronological Stratification Summary: The book provides detailed tables and discussions assigning specific sutras to canonical stages, revealing a significant portion of the nucleus originating in the third stage, with extensive development and additions in the fourth and fifth stages. The fifth stage is particularly rich in mythological stories, the formalization of the Jaina church, and the systematization of doctrines.

Overall Significance:

"A Study of the Bhagavatisutra: A Chronological Analysis" is a foundational work in Jaina studies, offering a rigorous and detailed chronological framework for understanding one of the most complex Jaina canonical texts. By meticulously analyzing the Bhagavatisutra's content in relation to the broader evolution of Jaina thought, Suzuko Ohira provides invaluable insights into the historical development of core Jaina philosophical and ethical doctrines. The study underscores the Bhagavatisutra's unique position as a repository of early Jaina thought and its crucial role in the development of the entire Jaina canon.