Devendra Narkendra Prakaranam - Book Summary

Certainly! Based on the provided text, here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Devendra Narkendra Prakaranam" by Munisundarsuri, including the commentary by Munichandrasuri.

Book Title: Devendra Narkendra Prakaranam (देवेन्द्र-नरकेन्द्रप्रकरणम्) Author of Original Work: Unknown (as stated in page 4) Author of Commentary (Vritti): Munichandrasuri (मुनिचन्द्रसूरि) Publisher: Shri Jinshasan Aradhana Trust, Mumbai Publication Details: Vikram Samvat 2045 (1989 CE), Veer Samvat 2515.

Overall Summary:

"Devendra Narkendra Prakaranam" is a significant ancient Jain text that meticulously describes the realms of heavens (Deva Loka) and hells (Narak Loka) within the Jain cosmology. It details the various abodes, their inhabitants (Devas and Naraka beings), their rulers (Indras), and a wealth of astronomical and geographical information related to these realms. The text, originally composed by an unknown ancient acharya, is preserved and elucidated through a detailed commentary (vritti) by Acharya Munichandrasuri. The publication aims to bring this valuable ancient knowledge to a wider audience, emphasizing its role in fostering detachment (vairagya) and spiritual merit.

Key Content and Structure:

The text is divided into two main sections, as indicated by its title:

Narkendra Prakaranam (नरकेन्द्र प्रकरणम्): This section focuses on the hellish realms.
- Description of Hells: It details the seven hellish planes (Narakas), starting from Ratnaprabha (रत्नप्रभा) and going down to Mahatamahaprabha (महातमःप्रभा).
- Narakavasas (नरकावास): It describes various types of abodes within each hellish plane, categorized as "Shreni-gata" (श्रेणिगत - arranged in rows/lines), "Pankti-baddha" (पङ्क्तिबद्ध - arranged in lines), and "Prakirnaka" (प्रकीर्णक - scattered/miscellaneous).
- Narendra (नरेंद्र): It names and enumerates the rulers or chief beings (Indras) of these hellish abodes within each plane. The text specifies the number of these rulers, often decreasing as one descends to lower hells (e.g., 13 in the first hell, 11 in the second, down to 1 in the seventh).
- Numbering and Calculations: A significant portion of the text and its commentary involves intricate calculations and methods for determining the total number of abodes, their arrangements (triangular, circular, etc.), their positions within different planes and directions, and their quantities based on the "ranka" (प्रस्तर - layer or stratum) system.
- Lifespan and Attributes: It touches upon the lifespans (Ayush) of the beings in these realms, although this is more detailed in the Devendra section.
- Authoritative Basis: The commentary mentions that the original work is based on earlier scriptures like "Viman Prajnapti" and "Narak Vibhakti" (विमानप्रज्ञप्ति-नरकविभक्ति), which are themselves considered "Prakirnaka Shruta" (प्रकीर्णक श्रुत - ancillary scriptures).
Devendra Prakaranam (देवेन्द्र प्रकरणम्): This section focuses on the heavenly realms.
- Description of Heavens: It details the various heavenly planes, including Kalpa Viman (कल्प विमान - celestial mansions), Graiveyaka (ग्रैवेयक - neck-like mansions), and Anuttara Viman (अनुत्तर विमान - supreme mansions).
- Vimana Indras (विमान इन्द्र): It names and enumerates the rulers (Indras) of the heavenly abodes. The text meticulously lists 62 types of Vimana Indras, distributed across different heavenly planes.
- Numbering and Distribution: Similar to the Narkendra section, it provides detailed calculations and methods for determining the number of celestial mansions and their distribution across planes, directions, and layers (prastara).
- Lifespan and Attributes: It extensively discusses the lifespans of the celestial beings, noting variations across different planes and ranks.
- Types of Mansions: It categorizes mansions into "Shreni-gata" (arranged in rows), "Pankti-baddha" (arranged in lines), and "Prakirnaka" (scattered). It also describes their shapes (circular, triangular, square) and dimensions.
- Devatas and Their Roles: It mentions various classes of celestial beings, including the Indras, Samanikas (ministers), Trayastrimshas (group of 33 gods), Lokapalas (guardians of directions), and Agramahishis (chief queens).
- Cosmological Details: It provides descriptions of their movements, their residence in different types of mansions (each in their own versus communal), their sensory perceptions, their powers (Riddhi), and their modes of sustenance.
- Vairagya (Detachment): The text highlights how studying these realms, their impermanence, and the suffering of hell beings can foster detachment and spiritual aspiration.

Commentary by Munichandrasuri:

Acharya Munichandrasuri's commentary is crucial for understanding the complex details, calculations, and archaic language of the original text.

Scholarly Approach: The commentary is highly detailed, often explaining the context, etymology, and grammatical nuances of the original Sanskrit and Prakrit verses.
Historical Context: The publication's editorial note (page 4) mentions that Munichandrasuri composed his commentary in Samvat 1168 (circa 1111 CE), making it an ancient commentary. The current edition is a reprint of an earlier edited version from Samvat 1916 (1859 CE).
Importance of Gujarati Preface: Page 6 explains the rationale behind writing the preface in Gujarati rather than Sanskrit, citing reasons such as accessibility for those who may not know classical languages, the need to attract readers to the core subject matter, and the general trend in contemporary literature publishing.
Authorship of Original: The commentary acknowledges that the author of the original "Devendra Narkendra Prakaranam" is unknown but places them as an "ancient acharya" (चिरंतन आचार्य).
Availability of Manuscripts: The current publication is based on a single handwritten manuscript obtained from the Bhandarkar Institute in Pune, indicating the rarity of complete copies.

Significance and Purpose:

Spiritual Instruction: The study of these realms is presented as a means to cultivate detachment (vairagya) from worldly pleasures and to understand the consequences of karma. It serves as a reminder of the transient nature of existence in all realms and the ultimate goal of liberation (moksha).
Preservation of Knowledge: The text and its commentary are valuable for preserving detailed cosmological and astronomical knowledge within Jainism, which is often intricate and requires careful study.
Accessibility: The modern edition, with its Gujarati preface and the commentary itself, aims to make this profound knowledge accessible to Jain scholars, monks, nuns, and lay followers interested in cosmology.

In essence, "Devendra Narkendra Prakaranam," as elucidated by Munichandrasuri, is a comprehensive treatise on the Jain understanding of the cosmos, focusing on the intricate details of the heavenly and hellish realms, their rulers, and their numerical and spatial configurations, all intended to guide the reader towards spiritual insight and detachment.