Agam 21 Upang 10 Pushpika Sutra English Translation

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Agam 21 Upang 10 Pushpika Sutra English Translation" compiled by Muni Deepratnasagar:

Overall Purpose and Context:

This publication aims to provide an English translation and commentary of the Pushpika Sutra, which is identified as Aagam Sutra 21, Upang Sutra 10. The text itself is a part of the Jain Agamas, a collection of sacred scriptures. The compilation is intended for a modern audience, particularly the younger generation and those living abroad, highlighting the necessity of accessible English translations of Jain literature. The publisher, Deepratnasagar, has a broader mission of making all Agamas available in English.

Structure and Content:

The Pushpika Sutra is divided into ten chapters, or Adhyayanas. The provided text focuses on the first four chapters, with a brief mention and summary of the subsequent chapters. The narratives are framed as a dialogue between Jambu Swami and Sudharma Swami, with Bhagavan Mahavir's discourses being relayed.

Key Themes and Narratives:

The core of the Pushpika Sutra revolves around the concept of karma and rebirth, illustrating how actions in past lives determine present circumstances and future destinies. The stories often involve celestial beings (gods and goddesses) who visit Bhagavan Mahavir to pay homage. Gautam Swami then inquires about their past lives, and Bhagavan Mahavir explains their previous existences and the karmic causes for their current states. A recurring element is the importance of spiritual purity, critical review (pratikraman), and atonement for transgressions in vows, especially at the time of death.

Chapter-by-Chapter Summary:

• Chapter 1: Chandra (The Moon God)

  • Celestial Event: Chandra, the king of the Chandra Jyotishk gods, visits Bhagavan Mahavir in his celestial vehicle. He presents a grand display of opulence and power.
  • Gautam Swami's Inquiry: Gautam Swami asks Bhagavan Mahavir where this divine display vanished. Bhagavan Mahavir explains it merged back into Chandra's body, using the analogy of a camouflaged house (Kutagar).
  • Past Life: Bhagavan Mahavir reveals that Chandra was once Angati Gathapati, a wealthy householder in Shravasti. Angati Gathapati became a disciple of Arhat Parshvanath, observed asceticism, and eventually took the vow of sallekhana (the final vow of renunciation before death).
  • Key Lesson: Angati Gathapati died without pratikraman, leading to his immediate reincarnation as Chandra. The chapter emphasizes the importance of spiritual purity and critical review of transgressions in one's final moments. His future birth is predicted to be in Mahavideh, ultimately leading to liberation (Siddha).

• Chapter 2: Surya (The Sun God)

  • Celestial Event: Similar to Chandra, Surya, the king of the Surya Jyotishk gods, visits Bhagavan Mahavir with a similar display of divine grandeur.
  • Past Life: Surya was once Supratishtha Gathapati in Shravasti. He also became a disciple of Arhat Parshvanath, got initiated, and died without pratikraman.
  • Key Lesson: This chapter reinforces the lesson from Chapter 1 about the consequences of dying without critical review. Surya's future is also predicted to be in Mahavideh, leading to liberation.

• Chapter 3: Shukra (The Venus God)

  • Celestial Event: Shukra, the king of the Shukra Jyotishk gods, also visits Bhagavan Mahavir, exhibiting his divine opulence.
  • Past Life: Shukra was previously Somil Brahmin of Varanasi. He initially sought answers from Arhat Parshvanath and embraced the Shravak-dharma (lay follower's code). However, due to lack of spiritual company and discourse, his righteous thoughts were replaced by unrighteous ones, leading him to falsehood.
  • Detailed Narrative of Somil: The chapter provides an extensive account of Somil Brahmin's life. It details his various religious and charitable acts, his eventual initiation as a Dishaprokshik hermit, and his rigorous ascetic practices, including continuous two-day fasts and mortification of his body. It also describes a divine warning he received about his "bad praxis," which he ignored.
  • Key Lesson: The story highlights the danger of abandoning righteous conduct and succumbing to falsehood. Despite his austerities, Somil's lack of critical review before death led to his rebirth as Shukra. The chapter also includes detailed explanations of various Jain technical terms and practices. His future is also Mahavideh and eventual liberation.

• Chapter 4: Bahuputrika Devi

  • Introduction and Theme: This chapter is known for its longer narrative and emphasizes the danger of intense desire or infatuation, stating that it always leads to misery.
  • Celestial Event: Bahuputrika Devi, a goddess, visits Bhagavan Mahavir, displaying her divine powers by creating numerous young gods and goddesses.
  • Past Life of Subhadra Sarthavahi: Bahuputrika Devi was previously Subhadra, the wife of a caravan chief named Bhadra. She was sterile and deeply desired children, which caused her great sorrow. She later embraced Shravak Dharma and then got initiated as an ascetic under Aryika Suvrata.
  • Anti-Ascetic Activities and Consequence: As an ascetic, Subhadra developed an excessive fondness for children, engaging in anti-ascetic activities like fondling and caring for them. Despite being warned by Aryika Suvrata, she continued her actions and eventually left the monastic order to live independently. She died without critical review and atonement, leading to her rebirth as Bahuputrika Devi.
  • Soma Brahmani and the Cycle of Desire: In her future life, she will be born as Soma Brahmani, who gives birth to twins every year for sixteen years (thirty-two children). Overwhelmed by the hardship of raising so many children, she laments her fate, highlighting how intense craving causes suffering in different forms across births. She eventually becomes a lay devotee and then an ascetic, ultimately achieving liberation.
  • Key Lesson: The chapter strongly warns against intense craving and emphasizes the necessity of critical review and atonement for all faults, regardless of one's adherence to vows.

• Chapter 5: Purnabhadra

  • Celestial Event: Purnabhadra god visits Bhagavan Mahavir with similar displays of opulence.
  • Past Life: Purnabhadra was a noble householder named Purnabhadra in Manipadika city. He got initiated by senior ascetics, led an ascetic life, observed austerities, and took the sallekhana vow.
  • Key Lesson: Like previous examples, he is described as having died after doing pratikraman, leading to his rebirth as a god. His life-span is two Sagaropam, and his future is to be born in Mahavideh and attain liberation.

• Chapter 6: Manibhadra

  • Celestial Event: Manibhadra god visits Bhagavan Mahavir.
  • Past Life: Manibhadra was a householder named Manibhadra in Manipadika city. He followed a similar path of initiation, asceticism, and sallekhana after performing pratikraman.
  • Key Lesson: Reincarnation as a god with a life-span of two Sagaropam, and a future in Mahavideh leading to liberation.

• Chapters 7 to 10: Datt, Shiva, Bala, and Anadrit

  • The text notes that the stories of these remaining celestial beings are generally similar to that of Purnabhadra. They also had celestial lives of two Sagaropam and were initiated by ascetics in their past lives, eventually taking sallekhana after performing pratikraman. Their future births are also in Mahavideh leading to liberation. The chapter mentions that the specific cities and chaityas (temples/sacred groves) of their past lives are detailed in the Sangrahani Gatha, which is not included in this text.

Overall Message and Publisher's Intent:

The Pushpika Sutra serves as a didactic text, using narratives of celestial beings and their past human lives to illustrate fundamental Jain principles. These include:

• The law of Karma: Actions have consequences that manifest in future births.
• The importance of pratikraman (critical review) and atonement, especially before death, for a favorable rebirth.
• The perils of unfulfilled desires and intense infatuation.
• The path to liberation through righteous conduct, asceticism, and spiritual purity.

The publisher's effort in translating and presenting these complex texts in English aims to make Jain spiritual knowledge accessible to a wider, global audience. The publication is presented as a "Net Publication" with the possibility of a future printed edition, reflecting a commitment to disseminating Jain teachings.