Bruhat Sangrahani - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Bruhat Sangrahani" by Chandrasuri, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Bruhat Sangrahani (The Great Collection) Author: Chandrasuri (a young disciple of Shri Hemchandrasuri of the Malladharigachchha) Publisher: Umedchand Raichand Master Language: Gujarati Edition: First Edition Year: Samvat 1980 / Veer Nirvana Samvat 2450 / 1924 AD

Overall Purpose and Significance:

"Bruhat Sangrahani" is a highly important and well-regarded Jain text, also known as "Trailokdeepika" (The Lamp of the Three Worlds).
It serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the characteristics of beings in all four realms (heavenly beings, humans, animals, and hellish beings).
It details crucial aspects like their bodies, lifespans, sanghanan (body structure), sansthan (body posture), abodes (viman, bhuvan), movements (gati, aaghati), and their states of happiness and suffering.
The text is particularly beneficial for human beings who, lacking avadhi jnan (clairvoyant knowledge), rely on ancient texts to understand other realms.
It aims to help beings who desire to ascend to higher realms and attain greater happiness, emphasizing that this is only possible through proper conduct and achieving the human birth.

Author and Inspiration:

The book was compiled by Chandrasuri, a young disciple of the esteemed Acharya Shri Hemchandrasuri.
The publication was inspired by the benevolent guidance and special encouragement of the revered Guruni Mahraj Shri Saubhagya Shreeji of the Tapagachchha.

Content Breakdown (Based on the provided pages):

The text is structured around explaining various aspects of the celestial realms and their inhabitants, covering the following:

Mangalacharan and Introduction (Page 6-9):
- Begins with prayers to Shri Vardhaman Swami and the Five Supreme Beings (Panch Parmeshthi).
- The author performs Mangalacharan (auspicious invocation) and outlines the Abhidhey (subject matter), Prayojan (purpose), Sambandh (relation), and Adhikari (eligible audience) of the work.
- It emphasizes the importance of human birth for achieving moksha (liberation) and the role of the human form in understanding the universe.
Lifespan of Celestial Beings (Pages 9-17):
- Bhuvangati (Heavenly Beings):
  - Bhuvanpati (10 classes): Details the minimum lifespan of Bhuvanpati deities as ten thousand years. It then elaborates on the maximum lifespans of the Indra and Indrani of different classes, ranging from one Sagaropam to one Sagaropam with variations.
  - Vantariya (Subterranean beings): Describes their minimum lifespan as ten thousand years and their maximum lifespan as one Palyopam for the males and half Palyopam for the females.
  - Jyotishi (Luminous beings - Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets):
    - Details lifespans for the Moon (1 lakh + 1 Palyopam), Sun (1 thousand + 1 Palyopam), planets (1 Palyopam), and their consorts (half Palyopam).
    - Further breaks down the lifespans for constellations (half Palyopam) and stars (quarter Palyopam).
    - It also mentions their minimum lifespans, which are fractions of Palyopam.
  - Vaimanika (Aerial beings):
    - Explains the increasing lifespans across the 12 heavenly realms (devlok), starting from two Sagaropam in Saudharma and Ishana, up to thirty-one Sagaropam in Achyuta.
    - Details the lifespans in the nine Graiveyak realms, increasing from twenty Sagaropam to thirty-one Sagaropam.
    - Finally, it states that the Anuttar Viman beings have a lifespan of thirty-three Sagaropam.
Abodes (Bhuvan) of Bhuvanpati (Pages 27-31):
- Lists the ten classes of Bhuvanpati: Asura Kumar, Naga Kumar, Suvarna Kumar, Vidyut Kumar, Agni Kumar, Dweep Kumar, Udhadhi Kumar, Dish Kumar, Vayu Kumar, and Stambh Kumar.
- Describes the Indra of each class (two per class, north and south).
- Provides the number of celestial mansions (bhuvan) for the southern and northern divisions of each class, totaling 72 lakh mansions across all Bhuvanpati.
- Mentions the unique symbols (chinha) and colors (varna) associated with the Indra of each class.
- Details the number of attendant (samanika) and guardian (aagrakshak) deities for the Indra.
Vantariya (Subterranean) Beings (Pages 34-42):
- Describes their cities as having circular exteriors and square interiors, with lotus-petal shapes at the bottom.
- Mentions their joyous existence, immersed in music and dance.
- Details their eight types: Pisacha, Bhuta, Yaksha, Rakshasa, Kinnara, Kimpurusha, Mahoraga, and Gandharva.
- Lists the sixteen Indra for these eight types (two per type, north and south).
- Describes their respective flags (dhwaja) and colors.
- Provides the location and number of mansions for different Vantariya groups.
Jyotishi (Luminous) Beings (Pages 42-50):
- Explains the structure of the celestial chariot (jyotish chakra) and the distances involved.
- Details the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and constellations within the 100-110 yojanas above the Rucaka region.
- Describes the relative speeds and brilliance of these luminous bodies.
- Explains how the number of mansions and their size is related to the lifespan of their rulers.
- Mentions the carrying of these chariots by celestial beings in different animal forms (lion, elephant, bull, horse).
Human Realm (Page 48):
- Describes the human realm (manushyakhetra) as 45 lakh yojanas in extent.
- Mentions the existence of stationary celestial bodies outside the human realm, half the size of the moving ones.
Rahu (Page 53-54):
- Describes Rahu's celestial body and its movement relative to the Moon.
- Distinguishes between the permanent Rahu and the eclipsing Rahu.
Inter- and Intra-realm Calculations (Pages 55-61):
- Explains the calculation of distances between stars and constellations, considering the impact of Mount Meru.
- Details the distances between the Sun and Moon, and between celestial bodies.
- Provides calculations for the sizes of celestial mansions and their inter-distances.
- Describes the layered structure of the heavens and the corresponding lifespans and dimensions.
Islands and Oceans (Pages 61-64):
- Lists the names of various islands and oceans.
- Describes the characteristics of their waters (e.g., milky, ghee-like, wine-like).
- Mentions the types and sizes of aquatic creatures found in the oceans.
- Details the number of celestial bodies (Sun, Moon) in different islands.
The Human Realm and its Celestial Connections (Pages 69-72):
- Explains how the number of celestial bodies corresponds to the size of the landmasses.
- Describes the cycles and arrangements of the Sun and Moon within the human realm.
Naraka (Hellish) Realms (Pages 176-217):
- Lifespan: Details the lifespans in each of the seven Naraka realms, from one Sagaropam to thirty-three Sagaropam.
- Structure: Describes the increase in lifespan from upper to lower Naraka.
- Cities: Lists the names of the Indra-like celestial beings (Indra-niraya) in each Naraka realm.
- Manushyakhetra: Mentions the dimensions of the human realm and its outer boundaries.
- Naraka Dwelling Structure: Describes the layered structure of each Naraka earth, with mansions at different levels.
- Naraka Mansion Dimensions: Provides the height and extent of the Naraka mansions.
- Inter- and Intra-realm Distances: Explains the distances between Naraka realms and their mansions.
- Naraka Suffering: Describes the ten types of suffering experienced by Naraka beings, including cold, heat, hunger, thirst, itching, dependence, fever, burning, fear, and sorrow.
- Naraka Birth and Death: Details the process of falling into Naraka and the immense suffering involved.
- Naraka Rebirth: Explains the destinations of beings after their Naraka lifespan, with the possibility of rebirth in the human realm and the attainment of higher states based on their actions.
- Naraka Loka (Realms): Describes the specific characteristics and inhabitants of each of the seven Naraka realms.
Human Realm (Pages 217-252):
- Lifespan: Discusses the lifespans of human beings, from the eternal youth of celestial beings to the fleeting moments of some elemental beings.
- Rebirth: Explains the destinations of various beings after death, including rebirth in the human realm, and the conditions for achieving higher or lower states.
- Ranks and Roles: Describes the different types of human beings and their potential to achieve high spiritual states or celestial abodes.
- Celestial Connections: Explains how beings from other realms are born as humans.
- Spiritual Attainment: Highlights the possibility of achieving liberation (moksha) from the human realm through righteous conduct and spiritual practice.
Tiryan (Fauna/Animal) Realm (Pages 240-249):
- Lifespan: Details the lifespans of various animal species, from the short-lived single-celled organisms to the long-lived beings.
- Rebirth: Explains how beings from other realms are reborn as animals and the reasons for their specific forms and lifespans.
- Spiritual Potential: Mentions that while animals are generally bound by karmic destiny, some can attain higher states through extraordinary circumstances.
General Principles:
- Karma: The text implicitly and explicitly emphasizes the law of karma as the driving force behind beings' rebirths and experiences.
- Soul's Journey: It portrays the soul's journey through various rebirths, driven by desires, actions, and the attainment of different realms.
- Moral Conduct: The importance of virtuous actions, self-control, and right knowledge is underscored for spiritual progress and liberation.

Key Concepts and Terms:

Sanghanan: Body structure, referring to the strength and arrangement of bones.
Sansthan: Body posture or shape.
Palyopama & Sagaropama: Units of time measurement for lifespans, with Palyopama being extremely long and Sagaropama being even longer.
Aushadha: Lifespan or duration of existence.
Upapata & Chayana: Birth and death of beings in different realms.
Gati & Aaghati: Movement and stationary states of beings.
Leshya: Subtle karmic qualities that color the soul and manifest as colors, affecting mental states and perceptions.
Karmas: The actions and their consequences that bind the soul to the cycle of birth and death.
Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of rebirth, the ultimate goal in Jainism.

In essence, the Bruhat Sangrahani is a foundational text in Jain cosmology, providing an intricate and detailed map of the universe and its inhabitants, guiding spiritual aspirants towards understanding the nature of existence and the path to liberation.