Agam 18 Upang 07 Jambudveep Pragnapti Sutra Shwetambar Agam Guna Manjusha

The provided text is a portion of the Jambudvipa Prajnapti Sutra, an important text within the Shvetambar canon of Jain Agamas. It is part of the Agam 18, Upang 07 collection, within the larger Agam Guna Manjusha series. The text, primarily in Gujarati with some Sanskritized terminology and Prakrit phrasing, describes the geography and cosmology of the Jambudvipa, the central continent in Jainism.

Here's a breakdown of the content based on the provided pages:

Overall Purpose: The Jambudvipa Prajnapti Sutra provides detailed descriptions of the Jambudvipa, its features, dimensions, inhabitants, and cosmic significance. It is a foundational text for understanding the Jain worldview of the universe.

Key Sections and Content:

• Introduction of Agamas: Pages 2-4 provide a brief overview of the Jain Agamas, categorizing them into Angas, Upangas, Cheda Sutras, Mula Sutras, and Culikas. This serves as a context for the importance of the Jambudvipa Prajnapti Sutra within the broader scriptural tradition.

• Description of Jambudvipa:

  • Cosmic Location and Shape: The text describes Jambudvipa as the innermost continent, circular in shape, resembling an oil-spreading disc, chariot wheel, lotus petal, or a full moon. Its vast dimensions (in yojanas) are meticulously detailed, along with its circumference.
  • Geographical Features:
    • Jambudvipa's Boundary (Jagati): It's surrounded by a diamond rampart (Vajramayi Jagati) with specific dimensions, gates, and decorative elements.
    • Continents and Regions (Kshetras): The text describes the Jambudvipa divided into various regions, particularly focusing on Bharat Kshetra (Pages 11-12, 18-26) and Haimavata Kshetra (implied through discussions of mountains and rivers). Bharat Kshetra is further divided into southern and northern parts by the Veyaddh mountain.
    • Mountains: The text details the Veyaddh mountain (Page 11-12) and mentions other mountains like Chullalahimavanta, Mahahimavanta, and their respective features. It also describes the mythical Meru mountain (implied through celestial descriptions).
    • Rivers: Ganga and Sindhu rivers are mentioned as boundaries and important features.
    • Lakes and Water Bodies: Numerous lakes (like Padma, Mahapadma) and oceans (Lavana Samudra) are described.
    • Trees and Gardens: Descriptions of various trees and gardens are provided, especially in the context of celestial beings' residences and the pristine nature of certain eras.
    • Cities: Mithila city is mentioned as a significant location.

• Inhabitants and Celestial Beings:

  • Gods and Goddesses: The text refers to various classes of celestial beings (Vanamaantara Devas and Devis) residing in Jambudvipa and their experiences. It also mentions specific deities associated with mountains and gates.
  • Human Beings: Descriptions of human life, their characteristics, lifespan, food habits, and societal structures across different eras (yugas) are provided, particularly contrasting the pristine conditions of earlier eras with the decline in later ones. The text highlights the progression of human lifespan and the evolution of their practices.

• Cosmological and Astronomical Details:

  • Time Cycles: The text explains the concepts of Avasharpini (downward epoch) and Utsarpini (upward epoch) and their subdivisions (Susama-susama, Susama, Susama-dusama, etc.).
  • Celestial Bodies: Detailed descriptions of the Sun (Surya Prajnapti), Moon (Chandra Prajnapti), stars (Nakshatras), and their movements, positions, and influences are provided. The text goes into great detail about the orbits and calculations related to these celestial bodies.
  • Measures of Time: The text defines units of time like Lava, Muhurta, Ahroratra (day-night), Paksha (fortnight), Masa (month), Ritu (season), Ayana (solstice), Samvatsara (year), Yuga (epoch), and discusses their durations and classifications.
  • Cosmic Entities: The text meticulously describes the dimensions and characteristics of various cosmic entities, including mountains, continents, rivers, celestial realms, and the ramparts surrounding them.

• Specific Narratives and Details:

  • King Pradesi: Mentioned in relation to the Suyagadanga Sutra.
  • King Srenika's Sons: Their life sketches are included in the Kalpavatamsaka Sutra.
  • King Andhakavrshni's Sons: Their stories are in the Vrsni Dasa Sutra.
  • Jambudvipa's Structure: The text details the division of Jambudvipa into Bharata, Haimavata, Mahahaimavata, Vidya, Ice-bound Himavanta, Mahahimavanta, Harivarsa, Ramyaka, and Airavata regions.
  • Mount Meru: While not directly detailed in the excerpt, its significance as a central cosmic mountain is implied through the descriptions of celestial abodes.
  • Chakravarti Bharata: His conquests, the origin of the Chakra-ratna, and his eventual liberation are described.
  • Jina Janmabhisheka: The ritual of the birth-anointment of Tirthankaras, involving divine maidens and Indra's participation, is described.
  • Astrology: The Surya Prajnapti and Chandra Prajnapti are identified as dealing with astronomical calculations.
  • Gacchachara: Mentioned as a substitution for Candavijaya Payanna in some traditions.
  • The "Nirayavali Pacaka": Refers to a group of five Upangas: Nirayavali, Kalpavatamsaka, Pupphiya, Pupphachulika, and Vrsni Dasa Sutras.

Author and Publisher: The text is presented as part of the "Agam Guna Manjusha" series, with Achalgachhadhipati P. Pu. A. Bh. Sw. Shri Gunasagar Surishwarji M. Sa. as the motivating editor. The publisher is Jina Goyam Guna Sarvodaya Trust, Mumbai.

Catalog Link: The provided link is for jainqq.org, a valuable resource for Jain literature.

Usage Restrictions: The text carries a disclaimer: JAIN EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL FOR PRIVATE AND PERSONAL USE ONLY.

In essence, this excerpt from the Jambudvipa Prajnapti Sutra is a meticulous and encyclopedic account of the Jain understanding of the central continent within their cosmology, detailing its physical structure, celestial mechanics, and the lives of its various inhabitants across time.