Bhadrabahu Sanhita Part 1

This is a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, focusing on the content of the Bhadrabahu Samhita Part 1.

Book Title: Bhadrabahu Samhita Part 1 Author(s): Bhadrabahuswami, Kunthusagar Maharaj Publisher: Digambar Jain Kunthu Vijay Granthamala Samiti Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/090073/1

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The provided text is the preface and introductory sections of the Bhadrabahu Samhita Part 1. It delves into the historical context, philosophical underpinnings, and detailed scope of the Nimit Shastra (Science of Omens) within Jainism and broader Indian traditions.

I. Introduction and Philosophical Context of Astrology/Divination:

• Human Curiosity about the Future: The text begins by highlighting humanity's innate desire to know their future, stemming from their capacity for thought and introspection. This curiosity has driven attempts to predict future events through various means.
• Natural Basis of Prediction: It acknowledges the natural inclination to infer a person's future from their physical appearance (form, color, body structure, limbs) and external circumstances, including the positions of stars and planets.
• Belief in Astrology: The widespread belief in astrology across cultures is noted, explaining the vastness of astrological literature. The existence of individuals who make a living through astrological knowledge is also mentioned.
• Indian Astrology: Indian astrology is highlighted as ancient, with numerous texts in Sanskrit and Prakrit.
• Two Main Branches of Jyotisha (Astrology):
  • Ganita Jyotisha (Mathematical Astrology): This is described as scientific, dealing with the calculation of planetary movements and positions for timekeeping.
  • Phalita Jyotisha (Astrology of Results): This branch interprets the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness based on planetary positions. Its basis is attributed to public faith, despite its popularity.
• Role of Ascetics and Scholars: People often seek guidance from ascetics, monks, and scholars regarding their future and the well-being of their families. However, the text cautiously points out that these predictions are not always accurate, acknowledging the 50% probability inherent in "yes" or "no" predictions.
• Anecdote from Delphi: An anecdote from the Greek temple of Delphi is recounted, illustrating the critique of predictive accuracy. A scientist questions the infallibility of the oracle's predictions, highlighting that while successes are remembered (and rewarded), failures (like merchants who didn't return from voyages) are often overlooked.
• Jain and Hindu Prohibitions: The text notes that Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain scriptures prohibit monks from making astrological predictions, indicating the uncertain nature of Phalita Jyotisha.
• Ashtanga Nimitta (Eight-Limbed Divination): This is identified as a key component of Phalita Jyotisha. It involves interpreting various signs and events to predict auspicious or inauspicious outcomes. These include:
  • Vyanjana (Marks/Moles): Moles, spots on the body.
  • Anga (Limbs): Observations related to body parts.
  • Svara (Sounds/Voices): Interpreting sounds.
  • Bhuma (Earth/Land): Characteristics of the land.
  • Chinna (Signs/Symbols): Moles, marks, etc.
  • Antariksha (Celestial Phenomena): Planetary and stellar positions, eclipses, meteor showers.
  • Lakshana (Characteristics/Marks): Auspicious symbols (like Shankha, Chakra), physical marks.
  • Swapna (Dreams): Interpretation of dream objects and events.
• Bhadrabahu's Connection: According to Jain tradition, Bhadrabahu was a great exponent of the Nimitta Shastra. Some identify him with the Shruta Kevali Bhadrabahu, who, using his astrological knowledge, foresaw a 12-year famine in North India and migrated south with his followers. Others consider him a contemporary and brother of the famous astrologer Varahamihira.
• Authorship Debate: The text acknowledges the debate surrounding the authorship of the Bhadrabahu Samhita. Pandit Jugalkishore Mukhtar believed it was not the work of Bhadrabahu Shruta Kevali but a "disorganized collection of scattered passages" compiled after VS 1657. However, Muni Jinvijay Ji found a manuscript dated around VS 1480, suggesting an earlier origin (11th-12th century). The editor's opinion places the compilation in the 8th or 9th century CE.
• Editorial Contribution: The current edition's editor, Pandit Nemichandra Shastri, utilized two ancient manuscript copies from the Jan Siddhant Bhavan, Arrah, in addition to previously printed texts. He provided translations of Sanskrit verses and extensive discussions based on various texts like the Brihat Samhita. The extensive preface also sheds light on the subject matter and the book's composition.

II. Historical Development of Samhita Shastra (Divinatory Branch of Astrology):

• Ancient Origins: The study of the cosmos has fascinated humanity since ancient times. Jain tradition traces the origin of astrology to the first Kulakar, Pratishruti, who explained the sun and moon to humans.
• Evolution of Mathematical and Divinatory Astrology: The development of Ganita and Phalita Jyotisha occurred thousands of years after the foundational principles of the solar system were understood.
• Priority of Phalita Jyotisha: Some archaeologists believe Phalita Jyotisha developed before Ganita Jyotisha, as early humans needed time purity (Muhurta Shuddhi) for their activities. Vedic texts primarily focus on lunar constellations and tithis for time purification.
• Key Texts: Surya Siddhanta and Panchasiddhantika are noted for early discussions on planetary calculations. Vedanga Jyotisha mainly prescribes time purification.
• Three Divisions of Jyotisha:
  • Siddhanta: Mathematical and astronomical aspects.
  • Samhita: Divinatory aspects, covering a wide range of practical subjects.
  • Hora (Jataka): Natal astrology, predicting based on birth chart.
• Scope of Samhita Texts: These texts incorporate elements of astrology into practical life, with a focus on agriculture. Vedic texts also contain principles of Phalita Jyotisha. The Atharvaveda describes agricultural information and various omens, including those related to victory and defeat.
• Early Influences: Elements of Samhita are found in early Sanskrit literature. While pre-Varahamihira Samhita texts are scarce, references to May, Shakti, Jivasharma, Manitth, VishnuGupta, Devaswami, Siddhansen, and Satyacharya suggest their existence. Samhita texts cover omens, Vastu Shastra (architecture), Muhurta Shastra (auspicious timings), Arishta (portents), and Shakuna (omens).
• Roots in Ancient Literature: The foundational principles of Samhita Shastra are present in texts beyond the Atharvaveda, including Grihya Sutras (Ashvalayana, Paraskara, Hiranyakeshi, Apastamba, Sankhyayana), Panini's Ashtadhyayi, Manusmriti, Yajnavalkya Smriti, Mahabharata, Kautilya's Arthashastra, and Harshacharita.
• Specific Examples from Texts:
  • Ashvalayana Grihyasutra: Discusses auspicious timings for rituals and mentions specific omens like a wild pigeon nesting in a house as inauspicious.
  • Paraskara Grihyasutra: Identifies specific constellations for marriage and describes celestial descriptions and their results.
  • Sankhyayana Grihyasutra: Considers a bee hive in the house and crows cawing at midnight as inauspicious.
  • Baudhayana Sutra: Mentions seasons based on solar transitions.
  • Nirukta: Defines time periods like day, night, lunar phases, and celestial movements.
  • Panini's Ashtadhyayi: Provides derivations for terms related to time and constellations and discusses "Vidyut Nimitta" (lightning omens).
  • Manusmriti: Discusses yogas and kalpa estimations, mentions auspicious marriage qualifications based on physical characteristics, and points to omens in leaf-breaking and animal sounds. It also refers to omens from meteorology, earth tremors, and eclipses.
  • Yajnavalkya Smriti: Explicitly mentions the Navagrahas (nine planets), zodiac divisions, and provides astrological interpretations for planetary conjunctions. It also discusses auspicious times for specific actions.
  • Mahabharata: Details numerous aspects of Samhita Shastra, including time calculation, auspicious timings for deeds, and astrological interpretations of planetary conjunctions. It highlights the influence of specific planets like Saturn and Mars as malefic, while Jupiter is considered benefic. Omens from planetary and stellar conjunctions are also discussed.
  • Harshacharita: Describes numerous inauspicious omens observed during Harshavardhana's campaign.
• Comprehensive Scope of Samhita: Samhita Shastra covers a vast array of topics: planetary movements, their characteristics, eclipses, planetary wars, conjunctions, meteorology (meteors, lightning, clouds, wind, rain), Vastu Shastra, Anga Vidya (divination by body parts), Antar Chakra (cosmic cycles), Swapna (dreams), and various omens predicting personal, social, and national fortunes.
• Early Samhita Texts: Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita (505 CE) is considered the earliest extant Samhita text, followed by works like Narada Samhita, Ravana Samhita, Vasistha Samhita, Vasantraja Shakuna, and Adbhut Sagar.

III. Detailed Breakdown of Nimitta Categories (Ashtanga Nimitta):

The text provides detailed descriptions of the eight limbs of Nimitta Shastra:

1. Vyanjana (Marks/Moles): Discusses the auspicious or inauspicious significance of moles on different parts of the body for both men and women, including their placement, color, and shape.
2. Anga (Body Parts): Interprets features of body parts like forehead, nose, eyes, teeth, neck, hands, legs, navel, etc., for predicting fortune, character, and destiny. It emphasizes the importance of well-formed and auspicious features.
3. Svara (Sounds): Explains the interpretation of sounds made by animals (crows, owls, cats, dogs), birds, and even inanimate objects to predict auspicious or inauspicious events. Specific sounds and their directional occurrences are linked to particular outcomes.
4. Bhumi (Earth/Land): Focuses on interpreting the characteristics of land – its color, smell, texture, and the presence of water or materials beneath it – for suitability for construction (houses, temples, reservoirs) and for predicting the presence of hidden treasures.
5. Chinna (Signs/Symbols): Interprets auspicious marks like Swastika, Kalasha, Shankha, Chakra, and auspicious lines on the palm and feet to determine one's destiny, wealth, and character. It details various hand-reading principles.
6. Antariksha (Celestial Phenomena): Explains the interpretation of planetary movements like rising, setting, retrograde motion, and conjunctions to understand their impact on regions and individuals. It discusses the effects of Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter's movements through different constellations and zodiac signs on weather, agriculture, and political stability.
7. Lakshana (Characteristics/Marks): Covers a wide range of auspicious and inauspicious signs, including the properties of various objects like clothes, weapons, seats, and footwears. It discusses how defects in these items can portend misfortune, while auspicious signs indicate good fortune.
8. Swapna (Dreams): Outlines the interpretation of dreams, categorizing them into different types (e.g., physiological, psychological, prophetic) and explaining how dreams can predict future events, positive or negative. It mentions that dreams related to specific deities or sacred symbols often indicate auspicious outcomes.
9. Prashna (Questions): Details methods of divination based on analyzing letters from a question, the timing of the question (Prashna Lagna), and the sounds made by the questioner (Svara Vijan). It provides complex systems of categorization for letters and sounds to predict outcomes in various aspects of life, from finding lost items to predicting success in ventures. It also discusses the classification of beings and objects based on their inherent nature (Jiva, Dhatu, Mula).

IV. Comparative Analysis with Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita:

The text includes a comparative analysis between the Bhadrabahu Samhita and Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita. It notes similarities in subject matter, particularly in chapters concerning meteors (Ulka), halos (Parivesha), and portents (Utpata). However, it also highlights differences in detail and emphasis, suggesting that while Varahamihira's work might be more concise in some areas, Bhadrabahu Samhita offers greater detail in others, such as dream interpretation and travel omens. The discussion also touches upon the dating of these texts and the potential influences between them, suggesting a possibly independent development of Jain Nimitta Shastra.

V. Authorship and Dating Debate:

The preface extensively discusses the complex issue of the Bhadrabahu Samhita's authorship and dating, acknowledging the traditional attribution to the Shruta Kevali Bhadrabahu but presenting scholarly arguments that suggest a later compilation, possibly by someone else based on Bhadrabahu's teachings or even a later compilation influenced by other astrological traditions. The text itself contains internal references to "Bhadrabahuvachoya," indicating that the compiled work might be an anthology of Bhadrabahu's sayings rather than a direct composition. The editorial efforts to reconcile differing manuscript traditions and provide extensive commentary are also highlighted.

VI. Structure and Content of the First Part:

The preface indicates that the first part of the Bhadrabahu Samhita contains 27 chapters, with chapter 30 provided as an appendix. The summary details the topics covered in the initial chapters, including:

• Chapter 1: Introduction, purpose of the book, and list of subjects.
• Chapter 2: Nature of anomalies (vikara), omens (utpata), and the origin, form, proof, results, and appearance of meteors (ulaka).
• Chapter 3: Detailed results of meteor falls based on their appearance, shape, color, and direction, including their impact on rulers, armies, and regions.
• Chapter 4: Description of halos (parivesha), their types (auspicious and inauspicious), colors, shapes, and their effects on rainfall, conflicts, rulers, and regions.
• Chapter 5: Description of lightning (vidyut) and its interpretation for rainfall, crops, and specific events.
• Chapter 6: Discussion of clouds (megha), their types, colors, movements, and their relationship with rainfall, agricultural outcomes, and political events.
• Chapter 7: Description of twilight (sandhya) and its interpretation based on colors, shapes, and timing for predicting auspicious or inauspicious events.
• Chapter 8: Detailed interpretation of cloud formations (megha) and their sounds (garjana) for predicting weather, agricultural prosperity, and political stability.
• Chapter 9: Analysis of winds (vayu) and their direction, speed, and smell for predicting weather patterns, agricultural outcomes, and the state of the kingdom.
• Chapter 10: Discussion of the "first rain" (Prasorshana) and its correlation with specific lunar constellations (Nakshatras) to predict the quantity and timing of rainfall and its impact on crops.
• Chapter 11: Interpretation of celestial phenomena known as Gandharvanagara (celestial cities or mirages) and their implications for rulers, regions, and people.
• Chapter 12: Explanation of "Megha Garbha" (cloud conception), detailing the timings and conditions under which clouds are believed to conceive, leading to specific rain patterns and agricultural outcomes.
• Chapter 13: Covers travel omens (Yatra Shakuna), discussing auspicious and inauspicious signs, timings, and the importance of consulting experts before undertaking journeys. It provides extensive lists of positive and negative omens related to people, animals, sounds, and objects.
• Chapter 14: Deals with portents (Utpata), categorizing them into divine, atmospheric, and terrestrial, and explaining their predictions for the king, the kingdom, and the people, including unusual natural phenomena and omens from deities' images.
• Chapter 15: Focuses on the movements and positions of Venus (Shukra) and its influence on weather, agriculture, trade, and political events, including its various cycles and phases.
• Chapter 16: Analyzes the movements and influences of Saturn (Shani) on different regions, social classes, and the general well-being of the population, including its effects on agriculture and politics.
• Chapter 17: Discusses the movements and effects of Jupiter (Brihaspati) on seasons, prosperity, health, political stability, and societal well-being, correlating its transits with specific years and their outcomes.
• Chapter 18: Explains the importance of Mercury's (Budha) movements, their different speeds, colors, and positions in relation to other planets, and their impact on the economy, agriculture, and political climate.

Overall:

The provided text serves as an extensive introduction to the Bhadrabahu Samhita Part 1, emphasizing its Jain origins and its comprehensive approach to the science of omens (Nimitta Shastra). It showcases the intricate system of divination prevalent in ancient India, which sought to understand and predict earthly events by observing celestial phenomena and various natural and unnatural occurrences. The text also highlights the philosophical perspective that these observations are not merely random but are expressive of underlying karmic principles and divine will.