Davvnimittam

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Davvnimittam" (also referred to as Nimitta Shastram) by Rushiputra Maharaj and Suvidhisagar Maharaj:

Book Title: Davvnimittam (निमित्तशास्त्रम्) Author(s): Rushiputra Maharaj (Original Text), Suvidhisagar Maharaj (Translator and Editor) Publisher: Bharatkumar Indarchand Papdiwal

Overall Purpose and Scope:

"Davvnimittam" is a Jain scripture dedicated to the study of nimitta shastra, which deals with omens, portents, and auspicious/inauspicious signs that can predict future events. The book aims to explain the principles of nimitta shastra as derived from the vast Jain religious literature, specifically drawing from the twelfth limb of the Jain canon, Drishtivada, and its component, Purvagata, which is known to contain extensive knowledge of astrology and divination. The text provides a systematic analysis of various natural phenomena and their predicted outcomes, intended to guide individuals towards understanding the workings of karma and making informed decisions.

Key Content and Structure:

The book is structured to systematically present the principles of nimitta shastra through various chapters, each focusing on a specific category of omens. The text contains 187 gathas (verses) in total. The main sections covered are:

1. Invocation and Introduction:

   • The text begins with salutations to Lord Adinath and Lord Mahavir, a common practice in Jain scriptures.
   • The author, Rushiputra Maharaj, declares his intention to expound on Davvnimittam (a treatise on fundamental omens), following the teachings of the Charana monks and ancient scholars.
   • The scripture defines nimitta (omens) into three categories: those seen on the ground, those seen in the sky, and those perceived through sound.
   • It emphasizes adherence to the teachings of previous Acharyas, rather than introducing personal interpretations.

2. Solar Phenomena (Surya Prakaran - Gathas 7-21):

   • This section details the predictions based on the appearance, color, and anomalies of the sun during sunrise and sunset.
   • Examples include:
     • Red-colored skies at sunrise indicating the death of royalty or ministers.
     • Sun appearing with fire-like sparks signifying destruction.
     • Sun appearing distorted or bent signifying misfortune for rulers.
     • Presence of halos around the sun indicating various outcomes.
     • The color of the sun's rays during twilight (sandhya) revealing specific future events.

3. Meteorological Omens (Megha Yoga Prakaran - Gathas 22-32):

   • This chapter focuses on omens related to clouds and weather patterns.
   • It describes predictions based on:
     • Cloud formations resembling lotuses or rain-showers.
     • Circular halos around the sun at sunrise/sunset indicating impending rain.
     • Direction and strength of winds.
     • Dew-like condensation during sunrise/sunset predicting rain.
     • The color and appearance of clouds, with specific interpretations for colors like yellow, red, blue, white, and dark.
     • Ominous signs like clouds appearing like tobacco or khaki, or having holes, signifying an end to rainfall or misfortune.

4. Lunar Phenomena (Chandra Prakaran - Gathas 33-43):

   • This part analyzes the predictive significance of the moon's appearance, shape, and color.
   • Key interpretations include:
     • The shape of the crescent moon (e.g., like a bow, like a plough) indicating prosperity or famine.
     • The color of the moon, with specific predictions for red (fear for Brahmins), yellow (fear for Kshatriyas), khaki (fear for Vaishyas), black (destruction of Shudras), and multi-colored or milky hues (destruction of cattle).
     • The color of the moon's halo, with red, yellow, and black halos indicating danger from weapons, famine, and fear, respectively.
     • Lunar eclipses and their implications.
     • The influence of planetary conjunctions with the moon.

5. General Portents (Utpaat Yoga Prakaran - Gathas 44-64):

   • This extensive section covers a wide range of unusual or unnatural occurrences that serve as omens.
   • These include:
     • Unexplained sounds of people, fighting, or crying.
     • Howling of jackals or foxes at specific times.
     • Constant noise or chaos in a region.
     • Movement of stationary objects or stillness of moving objects.
     • Sounds of musical instruments without any visible source.
     • Vehicles being pulled by snakes.
     • Ploughs moving on their own.
     • Trees falling without cause, indicating disease.
     • Dogs howling towards the sky.
     • Appearance of skeletons or skeletal figures.
     • Presence of meat-eating birds.
     • Children fighting aggressively.
     • Children playing with fire.
     • Children shouting about catching thieves.
     • Animals (mares, elephants, dogs) responding to human singing.
     • Cows, goats, or rats harming each other.
     • Dry trees uprooting themselves.
     • The text also elaborates on individual misfortunes like wealth loss, disease, and death based on specific omens.

6. Rainfall-Related Omens (Varsha Vishayak Utpaat Prakaran - Gathas 65-69):

   • This chapter specifically deals with unusual rainfall events.
   • It describes the consequences of:
     • Rain of blood, meat, urine, or oil.
     • Unseasonal blooming of plants and flowers, and blood-like sap from trees.
   • The duration for the manifestation of these effects is also specified (e.g., meat rain within a month, blood rain within two months, urine rain within six months, and ghee/oil rain within seven days).
   • These unusual rains are linked to calamities like epidemics, invasions, death of rulers, destruction of cities, and general chaos.

7. Omens Related to Divine Images (Devotpata Prakaran - Gathas 70-92):

   • This section focuses on the significance of disturbances or unusual phenomena related to images of deities, particularly Jain Tirthankaras and other revered figures.
   • Omens include:
     • Damage to the umbrella (chattra), chariot (ratha), hands, feet, head, halo (bhamandal), or body of Tirthankara images.
     • The movement or unnatural behavior of divine images (dancing, crying, laughing, moving, showing various expressions).
     • Sweating from images, especially with smoke, indicating various calamities like Brahmin destruction, loss of wealth, ruler's death, and widespread suffering.
     • Specific interpretations for images of deities like Shiva, Kubera, Indra, Kamadeva, Krishna, Arhants, Buddhas, Chandika, Varahi, Nagarani, and even the lingam.
     • The consequences of these omens can range from destruction of children and cattle to death of rulers, famine, and war.
   • The text also suggests remedies for appeasing the deities, such as performing worship with various offerings.

8. Royal Omens (Rajotpata Prakaran - Gathas 93-100):

   • This chapter addresses omens directly affecting rulers and kingdoms.
   • Examples include:
     • Royal insignia like umbrellas or fly-whisks breaking and falling near the king, predicting his death.
     • Sounds of musical instruments (drums, trumpets, conches) playing on their own, indicating the king's demise.
     • Fight between Yakshas and mice, or animals fighting or dancing near royal palaces or public spaces, signifying royal death, conflict, or destruction of the city.
     • Sun with holes or distorted human figures, predicting war and death of the king.
     • Owls crying during the day and crows crying at night, signifying destruction and war.

9. Rainbow Omens (Indradhanush Prakaran - Gathas 101-115):

   • This section deals with the interpretations of rainbows.
   • Predictions are based on:
     • The color of the rainbow (white, red, yellow, black) and its implications for different social classes.
     • The time of day and direction in which the rainbow appears.
     • The shape and clarity of the rainbow (e.g., bent, circular, broken, fiery).
     • Double rainbows are considered particularly ominous.
     • Rainbows appearing with smoke or fire predict calamities.
     • Specific interpretations for rainbows appearing like a beehive or crossing over constellations.
     • The text emphasizes the time frame for these predictions (days to a year).

10. Meteorite/Falling Star Omens (Ulkapata Prakaran - Gathas 116-133):

    • This chapter discusses the significance of falling stars or meteorites.
    • Predictions are based on:
      • The direction of the fall (e.g., north, west).
      • The duration and frequency of sightings.
      • The color of the meteor (white, red, yellow, black, multi-colored) and its impact on different castes.
      • The shape of the meteor (e.g., like a sword, like fire, like smoke, like animals, like flowers).
      • The time of day of the sighting (e.g., twilight, midnight).
      • The conjunction of the meteor with celestial bodies like Rahu or planets.
      • The impact of meteor showers on weather, crops, and economy.
      • The timing of the observation (first part of the night, midnight, last part of the night) influences the intensity of the predicted outcome.

11. Gandharva-Nagara Omens (Gandharva-Nagara Prakaran - Gathas 134-147):

    • This chapter describes omens related to "Gandharva Cities," which are atmospheric optical illusions resembling cities or structures in the sky.
    • Predictions are based on:
      • The direction in which these formations appear (east, west, north, south).
      • The season and time of day of their appearance.
      • The color and shape of the Gandharva city (e.g., like a rainbow, like a snake, like a fort).
      • The extent of the formation.
    • These phenomena are often linked to national calamities, death of rulers, famine, and widespread suffering.

12. Stone/Boulder Fall Omens (Utpalapata Prakaran - Gathas 148-153):

    • This section deals with the phenomenon of stones falling from the sky.
    • Interpretations are based on:
      • The shape of the falling stones (e.g., like rice, mustard seeds, dates, berries, lentils, conch shells, frogs, pots, elephant tusks, shields, vajras).
      • Falling stones shaped like rice, mustard seeds, dates, berries, or lentils predict prosperity.
      • Stones resembling conch shells or lentils indicate rain.
      • Stones shaped like frogs, pots, or elephant tusks signify destruction of the country.
      • Stones resembling pots, elephants, umbrellas, plates, or vajras predict national destruction and death of rulers.

13. Lightning Omens (Vidyullata Prakaran - Gathas 154-175):

    • This chapter focuses on the predictive significance of lightning.
    • Predictions are made based on:
      • The direction of the lightning (east, west, north, south, northeast, southeast, southwest, northwest).
      • The color of the lightning (white, yellow, red, black, multi-colored).
      • The presence of thunder, clouds, and wind accompanying the lightning.
      • The time of day and month of the lightning strike.
      • The behavior of lightning (e.g., moving horizontally, vertically, or in circles; silent or with thunder; appearing suddenly or fading).
      • Specific interpretations for lightning during different seasons (Shishir, Vasant, Grishma, Varsha, Sharad, Hemant).
      • The impact on crops, trade, and general well-being.

14. Cloud Omens (Megha Yoga Prakaran - Gathas 163-175):

    • Although partly covered in meteorological omens, this section specifically discusses rainfall patterns based on the timing of the first rains in relation to constellations (Nakshatras).
    • It details predictions based on which Nakshatra the first rains fall upon, linking them to prosperity, famine, disease, and the quality of crops throughout the year.

15. Comet Omens (Dhumketu Prakaran - Gathas 176-185):

    • This section deals with the omens associated with comets, referred to as "Kalaputra" or "Dhumketu."
    • Key aspects of interpretation include:
      • The direction of the comet's appearance and tail.
      • Its conjunction with planets (Jupiter, Venus, Moon, Mercury, Sun).
      • Its appearance during specific times of day (twilight, midnight) or within star formations.
      • The comet's proximity to Dhruva (Pole Star) or Saptarishi.
      • Comets are generally considered inauspicious and destructive, capable of causing death of rulers, famine, disease, and widespread destruction.
      • The text advises avoiding regions affected by significant cometary phenomena.

16. Conclusion (Gathas 186-187):

    • The author concludes by stating that the descriptions of omens are presented concisely and that further details can be found in other scriptures.
    • He reiterates that he, Rushiputra Muni, has presented these descriptions according to his own understanding in this brief text.

Key Themes and Philosophical Underpinnings:

• Karma and Destiny: The underlying principle of nimitta shastra in Jainism is the belief that these external signs are reflections of karma. While events are predetermined by past actions, understanding these signs can help individuals become aware of impending consequences and potentially mitigate negative outcomes through appropriate actions or spiritual practices.
• Foresight and Prevention: The purpose of studying nimitta shastra is not merely to predict but also to prepare for future events. By understanding potential calamities, individuals and communities can take precautionary measures.
• Spiritual Purity: The text implicitly suggests that a pure mind and disciplined lifestyle, as advocated in Jainism, can lead to a clearer understanding of these subtle signs.
• Respect for Tradition: The emphasis on following the teachings of ancient Acharyas highlights the importance of tradition and lineage of knowledge in Jainism.

Translator's Contribution (Suvidhisagar Maharaj):

The translation and editing by Muni Suvidhisagar Maharaj are crucial for making this ancient text accessible. His introduction explains the scriptural basis of nimitta shastra within Jainism, tracing its lineage from the Drishtivada and Purvagata. He also shares the personal journey of discovering the original manuscript in a library in Ajmer. The translation is augmented with explanations and elaborations based on other astrological texts, making the intricate concepts understandable. He emphasizes that his translation is not entirely independent but benefits from an existing commentary in a dialect called "Dhundhari."

Overall Significance:

"Davvnimittam" is a significant text in Jain literature, offering insights into the ancient Jain understanding of astrology and divination. It serves as a guide for interpreting natural phenomena and their supposed impact on human affairs, kingdoms, and the environment. The book reflects a worldview where cosmic events are intricately linked to human destiny, emphasizing the need for awareness, preparedness, and spiritual discipline.