Agam Sutra Hindi Anuvad Part 02

This Jain text, "Agam Sutra Hindi Anuvad Part 02" (Agam Sutra Hindi Translation Part 02), translated by Muni Deepratnasagar and published by Agam Aradhana Kendra, is a comprehensive Hindi translation of Jain Agamic literature. Specifically, this volume focuses on the Sthan Sutra (Place Sutra) and the Samavaya Sutra (Confluence Sutra), which are the third and fourth Angas (limbs) of the Jain Agamas.

The book is dedicated to "Namo Namo Nirmal Darshansara" (Homage to the essence of pure vision) and begins with invocations to Bal Brahmachari Shri Nemish (the celibate Neminatha) and Gurudev Shri Anand-Kshama-Lalit-Susheel-Sudharma Sagar.

Key Highlights from the provided pages:

• Translation and Authorship: The translation is attributed to Muni Deepratnasagar. The publication is by Agam Aradhana Kendra, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

• Content Focus: The primary content of this volume is the Hindi translation and explanation of the Sthan Sutra (Pages 13-26) and the Samavaya Sutra (Pages 14-179).

• Agam Sutra Series: The book is part of a larger series of Agam Sutra Hindi translations. Page 6 and subsequent pages (6-11) list a vast number of publications by the publishing house, covering various Jain scriptures, commentaries, directories, and prayer collections, indicating the extensive nature of their work in preserving and disseminating Jain knowledge. These publications include translations and commentaries on all 12 Angas, 12 Upangas, 10 Pindakiryas, 6 Chhedasutras, 4 Moolasutras, and various other important Jain texts.

• Sthan Sutra (Pages 17-26): This section details various classifications and enumerations within Jain philosophy, often focusing on the concept of "one" (एक). It categorizes elements, actions, qualities, and beings into single entities or concepts. For instance, it speaks of the soul being one, actions being one, location being one, and many other concepts being presented as singular. It goes into great detail, discussing categories like lishyas (types of karma-influencing psychic colors), pudgals (subtle matter), and their various attributes.

• Samavaya Sutra (Pages 14-179): This is a much larger section, enumerating and categorizing vast amounts of information. It systematically lists and correlates various Jain concepts, elements, and phenomena. The content is presented in a numerical and classificatory manner, often using the principle of duality (two types of something) or multiplicity (three types, four types, etc.) to explain the Jain worldview. This includes details about:

  • Cosmology: Descriptions of continents (like Jambu-dvipa), mountains (like Meru), rivers, lakes, celestial bodies (Sun, Moon, constellations), and their measurements.
  • Classification of Beings: Detailed enumerations of various classes of beings, including hell-dwellers (nairayika), heavens-dwellers (deva), plants (vanaspatikaya), and beings with different numbers of senses (ekendriya, dvindriya, etc.).
  • Karma and Soul: Discussions related to karma, its various classifications, and the soul's journey.
  • Rituals and Practices: Mentions of rituals, conduct, and principles like Lishyas, Gatis (states of existence), Jñanas (types of knowledge), and Charitras (conduct).
  • Numerology and Categorization: A significant portion of the Samavaya Sutra is dedicated to enumerating things in various numerical categories, starting from one and going up to large numbers, often categorizing subjects into two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten types. This systematic classification helps in understanding the Jain analytical framework.
  • Detailed Lists: The pages provided show extensive lists of things classified by numbers, such as types of senses, types of actions, types of hells, types of heavens, types of mountains, rivers, divine beings and their qualities, rulers, deities, and their attributes. The structure often follows a pattern: "X is of Y types," "X is of Z number." For example, page 14 lists "two types of beings: mortal and immortal," "two types of souls: animate and inanimate," "two types of scriptures: Anga and Upanga," and so on. This pattern continues throughout the Samavaya section, detailing two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten classifications for various aspects of Jain cosmology, philosophy, and practice.

• Publisher's Commitment: The extensive list of publications on page 6 onwards highlights the publisher's dedication to making Jain literature accessible through translations and detailed enumerations.

• Catalog Link: The provided catalog link (jainqq.org/explore/009780/1) suggests this is part of a larger digital library of Jain texts.

In essence, this volume of the Agam Sutra Hindi Anuvad serves as a foundational text for understanding the intricate classifications and detailed enumerations that form a core part of Jain philosophical and cosmological discourse, specifically through the lens of the Sthan and Samavaya Sutras.