Agam 44 Chulika 01 Nandi Sutra

The provided text is a facsimile of the Nandisutram with its Cūrṇi (commentary), published by the Prakrit Text Society in Ahmedabad in 2004. The book is the ninth volume in the Prakrit Granth Parishad (Prakrit Text Council) series.

Here's a comprehensive summary of the key information and content presented in the facsimile:

1. Title and Authorship:

• Title: NANDĪSUTTAM (नन्दिसुत्तं) with the CŪRṆI (चुण्णी).
• Sūtra Author: Devavācaka (देववाचक).
• Cūrṇi Author: Jinadāsa Gaṇi Mahattara (जिनदासगणिमहत्तर).
• Editor: Muni Shri Punyavijayaji (मुनि श्री पुण्यविजयजी).
• Publisher: Prakrit Text Society, Ahmedabad (प्राकृत टेक्स्ट सोसायटी, अहमदाबाद).
• Prakrit Granth Parishad Series No.: 9 (ग्रन्थाङ्क ९).

2. Publisher's Information and Acknowledgements:

• The publication was made possible through the inspiration and financial support of the Punyashala Sahayami Trust, Ahmedabad, established under the guidance of Pujyapada Dharmateerthodhavak Siddhantasankshep Apramattajnanopasak Mahatman Vir Sevak Divangat Acarya Shrimad Vijay Mittranandsurishwarji Maharaj.
• Specific mention is made of the encouragement from Pujyapada Vatsalyavarishth Acaryadevesh Shrimad Vijay Ganachandrasurishwarji Maharaj and Pujya Acarya Shrimad Vijay Mittranandsurishwarji's learned disciple, Pravachankar Pujya Ganavarya Shri Bhagya Darshan Vijayji Maharaj.
• The Prakrit Granth Parishad expresses gratitude to the supporting trust and acknowledges the printing services of Manibhadra Printers.
• The publication date is May 2004.

3. Editorial and Scholarly Context:

• General Editors: Dr. V. S. Agrawala, Pandit Dal Sukh Malvania.
• The publication is a reprint, as all previous copies were exhausted after about ten years.
• The introduction (Prakashiya Nivedan) by Dal Sukh Malvania provides a historical overview of the publication of Jain Āgamas, highlighting the efforts of various scholars like Stevenson, Weber, Raichand Dhanpat Singh, Jacobi, Leumann, Steinthal, Hoernle, and L. S. Sukdev Sahay.
• It emphasizes the significant contribution of Muni Shri Punyavijayaji, who dedicated over forty years to researching ancient manuscripts, revising texts and commentaries of āgamas, and even cross-referencing āgamic quotations found in commentaries and other works.
• The establishment of the Prakrit Granth Parishad in 1953 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of independent India, is mentioned as a significant step for publishing Prakrit works, including the āgamas.
• The importance of Muni Shri Punyavijayaji's meticulous editing work, based on numerous manuscripts and commentaries, is highlighted, stating that the Prakrit Granth Parishad and the scholarly world are indebted to him.

4. Manuscript Basis and Editorial Methodology:

• The facsimile is based on a critical revision of the Nandisūtra and its Cūrṇi, utilizing a total of twelve manuscript copies (eight for the main Sūtra and four for the Cūrṇi).
• Four of these are palm-leaf manuscripts (Tāḍpatrīya).
• Manuscript Descriptions: The preface provides detailed descriptions of several key manuscripts, including their origin, contents, script, and condition. Notable manuscripts mentioned are:
  • J (जे०) Manuscript: Palm-leaf, from the Kharatara Gacch Jñānbhāṇḍār in Jaisalmer, critically reviewed by Acarya Shrijinbhadrasuri himself. It contains the Sūtra (pp. 1-26) and Malayagiri's commentary (pp. 1-297). Considered highly pure.
  • Sa (सं०) Manuscript: Palm-leaf, from the Jñānbhāṇḍār in Patan, belonging to the Laghupohśālikā. Contains the Sūtra.
  • Khaṁ (खं०) Manuscript: Palm-leaf, from the Shri Shantinath Tāḍpatrīya Jain Jñānbhāṇḍār in Khambhat. Contains the Sūtra (pp. 1-18), Anujñānandī (pp. 18-19), and Malayagiri's commentary (pp. 1-247).
  • De (डे०) Manuscript: Paper manuscript from the Jñānbhāṇḍār of Dela Upāśraya in Ahmedabad, also containing Malayagiri's commentary and Anujñānandī. Believed to be from the 17th century.
  • La (ल०) Manuscript: Paper manuscript from the Upāśraya Jñānbhāṇḍār of Lavar ki Pol, Ahmedabad. Has 35 leaves. Beautiful script.
  • Mo (मो०) Manuscript: From Modi Jñānbhāṇḍār in Patan, likely from the 16th century.
  • Śu (शु०) Manuscript: From Shubvir Jain Jñānbhāṇḍār in Patan. Mostly pure, likely from the latter half of the 17th century.
  • Mu (मु०) Manuscript: The edition by Āgamoddhāraka Shri Sagaranand Suri, published by Āgmodaya Samiti, Surat, in 1973.
• The Cūrṇi revision is primarily based on the Jaisalmer manuscript (J), considered highly accurate.
• The edition utilizes Cūrṇi, Haribhadra's commentary (Vr̥tti), Malayagiri's commentary (Vr̥tti), and Shri Chandri's commentary (Tippan). It also draws from quotations in other scriptures like Dvādaśāranayacakra, Samavāyāṅgasūtra, and commentaries on Bhagavatīsūtra and Viśeṣāvaśyaka.
• The editor notes the difficulty in the study of Cūrṇis due to their rarity and frequent inaccuracies in manuscripts, highlighting the good fortune of finding the accurate Jaisalmer manuscript.
• The preface discusses the characteristics of different manuscripts, including variations in orthography (e.g., use of 'ṇ' vs. 'n', parasavarṇa usages) and the presence or absence of certain gāthās.

5. Authorship and Chronology:

• The Nandisūtra itself does not name its author.
• However, the Cūrṇikāra Shri Jinadās Gaṇi Mahattara identifies the author of the Nandisūtra as Sthavira Shri Devavācaka, a disciple of the last sthavira Shri Dhuṣyagaṇi in the Nandisūtra's sthavirāvali.
• Acārya Shiharibhadra Sūri and Acārya Shimalayagiri Sūri also mention Devavācaka as the author in their commentaries, likely based on the Cūrṇikāra's statement.
• The text touches upon the debate regarding whether Devavācaka and Devardhigaṇi Kṣamāśramaṇa (who compiled the Māthuri and Vālabhī recensions of Jain āgamas) were the same person. It notes that the sthavirāvali in the Nandisūtra names Dhuṣyagaṇi as Devavācaka's guru, while variations in sthavirāvali texts make a definitive identification difficult. The difference in their names and titles is also pointed out.
• Cūrṇi Author Jinadās Gaṇi Mahattara: The text discusses the common assumption that Jinadās Gaṇi Mahattara authored the Cūrṇis and Jinabhadra Gaṇi Kṣamāśramaṇa authored the Bhāṣyas. However, after examining these works, the editor suggests this might be incorrect.
• The Cūrṇi itself contains a date: "Śak era 598 (Vikram Samvat 733)" is mentioned as the completion date of the Nandyadhyayana Cūrṇi (नन्द्यध्ययनचूर्णी समाप्ता इति). This is considered the composition date, not the manuscript writing date.

6. Linguistic Aspects:

• A brief mention is made in the preface that the author will not extensively discuss the language of the Sūtra and the Cūrṇi here, referring readers to a separate essay titled "Jain Āgama Authors and Prakrit Literature" for detailed linguistic analysis.

7. Contents of the Nandisūtra and Cūrṇi (as indicated by the Subject Index):

The extensive subject index (Vishayanukram) provided in the facsimile covers the following key topics discussed in the Nandisūtra and elaborated in the Cūrṇi:

• Invocation and Praise: Preliminaries, praise of Lord Mahāvīra, praise of the Sangha (using various metaphors like chariot, wheel, city, lotus, moon, sun, ocean, Meru mountain).
• Genealogies (Āvalis): Praise of the 24 Tirthankaras, 11 Gandharas, and a long lineage of Sthaviras (spiritual preceptors) up to Acārya Nāgārjuna.
• Types of Knowledge (Jñāna): Detailed explanation of the five types of knowledge:
  • Mati Jñāna (Perception/Sense Knowledge): Division into pratyakṣa (direct) and parokṣa (indirect). Detailed breakdown of pratyakṣa through senses and mind. Explanation of parokṣa which includes Śruta (scriptural knowledge).
  • Śruta Jñāna (Scriptural Knowledge): Classification into 14 types, including aṅgapravista (belonging to the 12 Angas) and aṅgabāhya (outside the Angas). Detailed discussion of various types of aṅgabāhya knowledge like kālika, utkālika, and the 29 names associated with them. Explanations of the 12 Angas and their contents.
  • Avadhi Jñāna (Telepathic Knowledge): Types like ānugāmika (moving) and anānugāmika (non-moving). Detailed discussion of subtypes, limitations (area, time), and modifications.
  • Manahparyāya Jñāna (Mind-reading Knowledge): Division into ṛju-mati (straight mind-reading) and vipula-mati (vast mind-reading), with their respective scopes and characteristics.
  • Kevala Jñāna (Omniscience): Types like bhavastha (existing in a living being) and kaivala (liberated). Detailed breakdown of subtypes and their nature. Discussion on the simultaneous perception and knowledge of all substances and their states, and the debate between yugapat (simultaneous) and kramopayoga (sequential) perception/knowledge proponents.
• Prakaraṇas (Chapters/Sections): The Nandisūtra is structured into sections dealing with:
  • Classification of entities and beings.
  • Delineation of different types of knowledge.
  • Discussions on karma, souls, and liberation.
  • The 12 Angas of Jain Scripture: Detailed explanations and summaries of the content and significance of each of the 12 Angas, including Ācārāṅga, Sūktāṅga, Sthānāṅga, Samavāyāṅga, Viyāhaprajñapti, Jñātādharmakathā, Upāsakadaśā, Antakṛttaśā, Anuttaraupapātikadaśā, Praśnavyākaraṇa, Vipākaśruta, and Dṛṣṭivāda.
  • Dṛṣṭivāda: This section delves into its five divisions: Parikarma, Sūtra, Pūrvagata, Anuyoga, and Cūlikā. Extensive details are given on the types of Parikarma and their respective contents.
  • Types of Knowledge: A significant portion focuses on elaborating Mati Jñāna and Śruta Jñāna, their subdivisions, and their interrelations.
  • Pūrvas: A list and description of the 14 Pūrvas (ancient texts) which form part of Dṛṣṭivāda.
• Appendices: The book includes five appendices and a corrigendum:
  1. Alphabetical list of gāthās in the main Nandisūtra.
  2. Alphabetical list of quotations in the Nandisūtra Cūrṇi.
  3. List of textual variants and different opinions in the Nandisūtra Cūrṇi.
  4. Alphabetical index of proper nouns (scriptures, authors, sthaviras, kings, merchants, cities, mountains) appearing in the Sūtra and Cūrṇi.
  5. Alphabetical index of subject-indicating and etymological words in the Sūtra and Cūrṇi.
  • A corrigendum is provided for the printed text.

In essence, this facsimile provides a critical edition of the foundational Jain Nandisūtra and its detailed commentary, the Cūrṇi, offering immense value to scholars of Jainism, Prakrit language, and Indian philosophy, backed by extensive manuscript research and scholarly expertise.