Agam 17 Upang 06 Chandra Pragnapti Sutra Sthanakvasi

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Chandra Pragnapti Sutra (Agam 17, Upang 06), based on the provided text, with a focus on its Jain context and the contributions of the author and publisher.

Book Title: Shri Chandra Pragnapti Sutram Author: Acharya Jain Dharma Divakar, Pujya Shri Ghasilalji Maharaj Commentary: Chandrapragptiprakashika by Munishri Kanhaiyalalji Maharaj Publisher: Shri Akhil Bharat Sthanakvasi Jain Shastroddhar Samiti, Garedla Kuva Road, Rajkot (Saurashtra), W. Ry. India Year of Publication: Vikram Samvat 2029 / Gregorian Year 1973 AD Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/006353/1

Context:

This text is a significant Jain Agam, specifically an Upang. The specific version presented here is from the Sthanakvasi tradition, indicating a lineage of Jain scholars and patrons dedicated to preserving and disseminating their scriptures. The publication by the Akhil Bharat S.S. Jain Shastroddhar Samiti highlights a collective effort within the Sthanakvasi community to revive and make these ancient texts accessible.

Author and Commentary:

The primary author of the text is Acharya Jain Dharma Divakar, Pujya Shri Ghasilalji Maharaj, a respected figure in the Jain tradition. The commentary, Chandrapragptiprakashika, is by Munishri Kanhaiyalalji Maharaj, who is recognized for his expertise in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Jain Agamas, as well as his eloquent exposition. This indicates a collaborative effort to ensure the text's clarity and depth for modern readers.

Publisher:

The Shri Akhil Bharat Sthanakvasi Jain Shastroddhar Samiti (All India Sthanakvasi Jain Scripture Restoration Committee) based in Rajkot, Saurashtra, played a crucial role in the publication. Their commitment to restoring and disseminating Jain scriptures is evident in this endeavor. The preface also mentions the generous financial support from Seth Shri Agarchandji Bherudanji Sethia, a prominent philanthropist from Bikaner, highlighting the importance of community patronage in such religious and scholarly projects.

Summary of Content (Based on the Table of Contents and Excerpts):

The Chandra Pragnapti Sutra is a foundational Jain text that primarily deals with astronomy, cosmology, and the celestial movements within the Jain worldview. The text intricately describes the universe, the paths and positions of celestial bodies, and the calculations related to time and space according to Jain cosmology.

Based on the detailed table of contents provided (Pages 18-22), the sutra is divided into two main sections, Prabhuta I (प्रथमं प्राभृतम्) and Prabhuta II (द्वितीयं प्राभृतम्), which are further subdivided into numerous chapters or topics (identified by numbers and subjects).

Key Topics Covered (from Table of Contents):

Part 1 (प्रथमं प्राभृतम्):

• Introduction & Pledge: Begins with a Mangalacharan (auspicious invocation) and the author's scholarly pledge (Pages 22-23).
• Cosmic Structures & Movements:
  • The number and paths of celestial bodies (mandalas) of the sun (1, 2, 23).
  • The movement and position of the sun in different directions (9, 10, 19, 23).
  • The concept of time, including muhurtas, days, nights, months, and years (11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20, 52, 56, 57, 58, 59, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 86, 87).
  • The measurement of shadows (paurushi chhaya) and its relationship to the sun's position (35, 36, 37, 38, 39).
  • The relative positions and interactions of the sun, moon, and stars (20, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71).
  • The concept of "Ojas" (radiance/vitality) and its relationship to celestial bodies (30, 31).
  • The nature and classification of light and heat (27, 28, 29).
  • The mention of "Leshya" (color/aura) and its interaction with the sun (30).
  • Discussions on different philosophical views (anya-tirthika mat) regarding these phenomena (5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75).
  • Specific details about the movement of the sun through various "mandals" (celestial spheres or regions) (1, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79).
  • Detailed analysis of the duration of day and night, and their variations based on the sun's position (25-33, 43-49).
  • Explanation of different "ayanas" (solstice paths) of the sun (33-43).
  • The concept of "Paurushi Chhaya" (shadow measured in units of human height) and its calculations (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76).
  • The concept of "yog" (conjunction) of stars with the moon and sun (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76).

Part 2 (द्वितीयं प्राभृतम्):

• Celestial Movements and Relationships:
  • The movement of the sun in different "mandals" (celestial regions) and its speed (23, 24, 25).
  • The concept of "Ojas" (radiance/vitality) and its position (30, 31).
  • The concept of "Leshya" (color/aura) and its impact (30).
  • The description of the sun's coverings (32).
  • The positional arrangement of the sun and moon (20).
  • The order of celestial bodies (mandalapadanam) and their measurements (20).
  • The movement of the sun in different "samas" (periods) and its cyclical nature (21, 77).
  • The appearance of phenomena like "Chatra-Atichatra yoga" (specific celestial conjunctions) related to the moon (80).
  • The increase and decrease of the moon's luminosity (80).
  • The movement of the moon and stars (85).
  • The concept of "Jyotsna" (moonlight) and its properties (82).
  • The rapid movement of celestial bodies (83).
  • The relative positions of the moon, sun, and stars within their respective spheres (84).
  • The cycle of stars and their relationship with the moon (40, 63, 70, 72).
  • The deities associated with stars (51).
  • The names of the fifteenth day and night cycles and their corresponding tithis (lunar days) (52).
  • The "gotras" (lineages) and "bhojanas" (foods/sustenance) of the 28 stars (53).
  • The movements of the sun and moon (54).
  • The names of worldly and transcendental "masas" (months) (55).
  • The nature of the "samvatsara" (year) (56).
  • The second "yuga" (era) and its "samvatsara" (57).
  • The "pramana" (standard/measure) "samvatsara" (58).
  • The "lakshana" (characteristic) "samvatsara" (59).
  • The "nakshatra chakra" (stellar cycle) (60).
  • The nature of stars (61).
  • The measurement of the boundary and diameter (62).
  • The conjunction of stars with the moon (63).
  • The description of Purnima (full moon) and Amavasya (new moon) (64).
  • The location of the sun's Purnima completion (65).
  • The location of the moon's Amavasya completion (66).
  • The location of the sun's Amavasya completion (67).
  • The stars with which the sun and moon complete their Purnima (68).
  • The conjunction of the sun and moon during Amavasya (69).
  • The time of conjunction with stars (70).
  • The division of stars (71).
  • The beginning of the year (72).
  • The count and other details of the "samvatsara" (years) starting from nakshatras (73).
  • The measurement of day and night when five "samvatsaras" combine (74).
  • The beginning and end of "samvatsaras" (75).
  • The discourse on seasons (76).
  • The nature of the sun and moon's "avritti" (revolution/cycle) (77).
  • The nature of the sun and moon's "Haimenti avritti" (cycle during winter) (78).
  • The conjunction of the moon in "Chhatra-Atichhatra yoga" (specific celestial arrangements) (79).
  • The increase and decrease of the moon (80).
  • The movement of the moon in different "mandals" during half-months (81).
  • The increase of moonlight (82).
  • The swift movement of celestial bodies (83).
  • The relationship between the sun, moon, and stars within their spheres and the distance between them (84).
  • The passage of the sun, moon, etc., through lunar months (85).
  • The movement of the sun, moon, etc., based on the day and night (86).
  • The characteristics of the moon's moonlight (87).
  • The falling and reappearance (chyavana-upapata) of the sun and moon (88).
  • The altitude of the sun and moon from the earth (89).
  • The smallness or equality of the controlling deities of stars and "vimanas" (celestial vehicles) (90).
  • The circumambulation of the moon and the "jyotishchakra" (stellar disc) around Mount Meru (91).
  • The "chalana" (movement) of the innermost etc. "mandals" (92).
  • The measurement of "vimanas" (celestial vehicles) (93).
  • The number of deities carrying the moon's "vimana" (94).
  • The distance between stars (95).
  • The statement about the chief consorts of the sun and moon (96).
  • The lifespan of celestial deities (97).
  • The relative quantities of the sun, moon, etc. (98).
  • The number and other details of the sun, moon, "graha" (planets), "nakshatras" (stars), and "tara" (stars) (99).
  • The place of origin of celestial deities located in the human realm (100).
  • Discourse related to Pushkaravaradvipa (101).
  • Description of Indradvipas and oceans (102).
  • The "anubhava" (experience/impact) of the sun and moon (103).
  • The discourse on Rahu (104).
  • The reason for the names "Shashi" for the moon and "Aditya" for the sun (105).
  • The description of the chief consorts of the sun and moon and their numbers (106).
  • The names of the eighty-eight "grahas" (planets) (107).

Bhairodonji Sethia's Biography (Pages 4-7):

A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the concise biography of Shri Bhairondanji Sethia, a pillar of the Jain community. His life was devoted to education and social service. The biography highlights his courage, equanimity, and generosity. It details his birth, education, business ventures (including establishing India's first color and chemical works), adoption of homeopathy, and significant contributions to Jain literature through the "Shri Agar Chand Bherudan Sethia Jain Parmarthik Sanstha Bikaner." This institution has published over 140 Jain philosophical and scriptural texts. His services to the Bikaner municipality and the state are also emphasized, including his role as commissioner and honorary magistrate. His life ended with Santhara (voluntary sallekhana), underscoring his spiritual dedication.

Overall Significance:

The Chandra Pragnapti Sutra, as presented in this edition with its detailed commentary, serves as a crucial resource for understanding the Jain cosmological framework. It offers a sophisticated and intricate view of the universe, time, and celestial phenomena, deeply rooted in Jain philosophy and practices. The emphasis on the biography of a prominent patron like Seth Bherudanji Sethia also points to the historical and societal context of Jain scriptural preservation and dissemination.