Agam 14 Upang 03 Jivabhigam Sutra Jivajivabhigame Terapanth - Book Summary

This is a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Agam 14 Upang 03 Jivabhigam Sutra Jivajivabhigame Terapanth," published by Jain Vishva Bharati, with Acharya Tulsi and Acharya Mahapragna as key figures. The text is presented in Hindi and English, with the English pages mirroring the content.

Overall Context:

The publication is part of a larger endeavor to critically edit and publish Jain Agamas. This specific volume, "Uvangasuttani (Part 1)," comprises three significant Upanga Sutras: Ovaaiyam (Aupapātika), Raayapaseṇiyam (Rajapraśnīya), and Jivājīvābhigame (Jivājīvābhigama). The project is dedicated to Acārya Tulsi on the occasion of his Amrit Mahotsava year.

Key Features of the Publication:

Authorship and Editorship: While the original text is ancient, this critical edition is graced by the vacana (discourse) being led by Acārya Tulsi and the editing and textual refinement undertaken by Yuvaācārya Mahapragna. Other monks and nuns provided significant support in text revision, lexicon compilation, and proofreading, highlighting a collaborative effort.
Publisher and Date: Jain Vishva Bharati, Ladnun, Rajasthan, published this work in Vikram Samvat 2044 (Diwali), corresponding to 1987 AD. It comprises 800 pages.
Structure: The book contains the original text of the three Upangas, critically edited, along with variant readings and a combined glossary at the end.
Agama Publication Plan: The publisher outlines a multi-pronged approach to publishing Jain Agamas, including:
1. Āgam-Sutta Granthamala: Presenting Agamas with original text, variant readings, and indexes.
2. Āgam Anusandhān Granthamala: Presenting Agamas with original text, Sanskrit translation, commentary, index, and original annotations.
3. Āgam Anushilan Granthamala: Presenting critical studies of Agamas.
4. Āgam-Kathā Granthamala: Compiling and translating stories related to Agamas.
5. Vargīkrit-Āgam Granthamala: Presenting Agamas in a classified form.
6. Āgamon ke keval Hindī anuvaad ke sanskaran: Editions of only Hindi translations of Agamas.
Acknowledgements: The publication acknowledges the financial and technical support from various individuals and trusts, including the Saravagi Charitable Fund, Shrl Ramlal Hansraj Golchha, and the Mitra Parishad.

Summary of the Three Upanga Sutras:

The introduction provides a brief overview of each of the three included Upanga Sutras:

Ovaaiyam (Aupapātika Sutra):
- Nomenclature: Derived from "Upapāta," meaning instantaneous rebirth or appearance, as the sutra describes the conditions and consequences of rebirth. Its Sanskrit form is Aupapātika.
- Subject Matter: Primarily focuses on rebirth, detailing how certain actions lead to specific types of future rebirths. It also includes extensive descriptions (varnakas) of cities, temples, gardens, kings, etc., which led to its frequent citation in other Agamas with the phrase "jaha Ovaaie" (as in Aupapātika).
- Commentaries: The earliest known commentary is by Acārya Abhayadev Sūri, who mentions the abundance of variant readings (vācanāntara) in this text, noting that many such instances would have been lost without his compilation. Another commentary is the Stabaka, likely by Muni Dharmasingh.
Rāyapaseṇiyam (Rajapraśnīya Sutra):
- Nomenclature: The name is derived from "Rājpraśnīya," meaning questions posed to King Pradeśī by Keśīsvāmī. While the text describes these dialogues, the naming as Rāyapaseṇiyam (or Rāyapaseṇaiyam as suggested by Pt. Bechradās Doshi) is debated from a linguistic standpoint, as pasen is not a standard Prakrit derivation from praśna.
- Subject Matter: Focuses on the philosophical discourse between King Pradeśī and Keśīsvāmī, addressing various questions about life, soul, and karma. The text is rich in descriptions and narratives.
- Commentaries: The main commentary is by Acārya Malayagiri, which is detailed. The Stabaka by Pārśvacandragani and Muni Dharmasingh is a concise translation. Malayagiri faced significant challenges due to the text's inherent complexity and numerous variant readings.
Jīvājīvābhigame (Jīvājīvābhigama Sutra):
- Nomenclature: The name signifies the exposition of Jiva (soul/living beings) and Ajiva (non-living beings), the two fundamental tattvas of Jain philosophy.
- Subject Matter: This sutra offers a detailed classification of living beings based on various criteria, including the number of senses (ekendriya, dvīndriya, etc.), the type of existence (anantar siddha, paramparā siddha), and the nature of their actions and conditions. It covers a vast range of topics, providing insights into the Jain understanding of the universe and its inhabitants.
- Authorship: The sutra is attributed to the Sthaviras (elder monks) and is considered a later text that compiles their diverse views (ādeśa).
- Commentaries: Two commentaries are available: a brief one by Acārya Haribhadra and an extensive one by Acārya Malayagiri. Malayagiri's commentary refers to the original commentary (mūla ṭīkā) and chūrṇi (secondary commentary), indicating the text's long exegetical tradition.

Key Themes and Content:

The detailed editorial and introductory sections provide further context:

Acārya Tulsi's Vision: The publication is a manifestation of Acārya Tulsi's long-held desire for scholarly editing of the Agamas. Yuvaācārya Mahapragna's dedication and unique yogic focus were instrumental in achieving this meticulous work.
Textual Criticism: The editors emphasize the importance of critically editing ancient texts, acknowledging the challenges posed by numerous vācanāntara (variant readings) and scribal errors. They highlight the efforts made to determine the most authentic text based on available manuscripts and commentaries.
Comprehensive Scope of Jīvājīvābhigama: This sutra is presented as a treasure trove of knowledge, covering the detailed classification of souls based on:
- Number of senses: From one-sensed to five-sensed beings.
- States of existence: Including hellish beings (nairayika), animals (tirycancha), humans (manuṣya), and celestial beings (deva).
- Temporal aspects: Life spans (sthiti), the time between lives (antara), and the duration of states.
- Physiological and psychological aspects: Body types (sharira), formations (sanghayana), mind (mana), speech (vach), consciousness (yoga), and classifications of knowledge (jnana) and perception (darshana).
- The role of “adeśa”: The concept of different viewpoints or opinions held by ancient scholars (sthaviras) is highlighted, especially in the Jivajivabhigama.
- Linguistic and Palaeographical Significance: The text is important for linguistic study due to its variant words and forms, and the publisher has made efforts to present these with clarity. The description of manuscripts used for the edition provides valuable information about their age, size, and content.
Interconnectedness of Agamas: The introduction to Ovaaiyam notes its frequent citation in other Agamas, indicating its foundational importance. The discussion on Anga and Upanga relationships highlights the systematic structure of Jain canonical literature.

In essence, this publication is a scholarly effort to preserve and present three foundational Jain texts (Ovaaiyam, Rāyapaseṇiyam, and Jīvājīvābhigame) with critical accuracy, offering a deep dive into Jain cosmology, ethics, and philosophy through detailed classifications and narratives.