Dwadashangi Padpraman Kulakam

This document is an introduction and summary of the Jain text "Dwadashangi Padpraman Kulakam" ( द्वादशाङ्गी पदप्रमाण-कुलकम्), authored by Jinabhadrusuri and compiled by Vinaysagar. It was published by ZZ_Anusandhan.

Here's a breakdown of the content:

1. Introduction to the Dwadashangi:

• The text explains that the Jain scriptures, known as the Dwadashangi Shrut (द्वादशाङ्गी श्रुत), are the teachings (artha - अर्थ) of the Tirthankaras (enlightened beings) and the scriptural compositions (sutra - सूत्र) of their Ganadharas (chief disciples).
• The purpose of this "Kulakam" (a type of collection or compendium) is to detail the "padpraman" (पदप्रमाण) or the number of "pads" (words or syllables, though the exact meaning is debated) in each of the twelve Angas (limbs or divisions) of the Jain canon and the fourteen Purvas (ancient scriptures).

2. Author Identification:

• The author of this "Kulakam" is identified as Jinabhadrusuri (जिनभद्रसूरि).
• The introduction notes that there were two prominent Jain monks named Jinabhadrusuri. It is likely that the author of this work is the second Jinabhadrusuri, who was the founder of the Jaisalmer Jain Gyan Bhandar (knowledge repository). His dedication to the preservation and enhancement of scriptures makes this attribution plausible.

3. Biography of Jinabhadrusuri (the likely author):

• The text provides a biographical sketch of this particular Jinabhadrusuri.
• He was the disciple of Jinarajsuri.
• His lay name was Ramanakumar, the son of a wealthy merchant named Dhiniga from the Chhajhad clan in the town of Deopur in Mewar.
• Ramanakumar became inspired by the teachings of Jinarajsuri and took initiation, receiving the name Kirtisagar.
• He studied all the scriptures under Acharya Shila Chandra.
• In 1475 (VS - Vikram Samvat), Kirtisagar was installed as the Acharya (head of the monastic order) of the Chandragachha (a Jain lineage) by Acharya Sagarachandra. This event was celebrated grandly by Nahligha Shah.
• His birth is recorded as VS 1449, on Chaitra Shukla Shashti, under the Ardra nakshatra.
• The text highlights his significant contributions to preserving and propagating Jain literature and knowledge. He arranged for the writing and safekeeping of thousands of ancient and new manuscripts in repositories in various cities like Jaisalmer, Devgiri, Nagaur, Patan, Mandavgarh, Ashapalli, Karnavati, and Khambhat.
• He also consecrated numerous Jain idols in temples at Abu, Girnar, and Jaisalmer.
• He passed away in VS 1514, on Margashirsha Krishna Navami, in Kumbhalmer.
• The Jaisalmer Sambhavanath Jinayala inscription praises his virtues. He was instrumental in inspiring the construction of temples and the establishment of knowledge repositories in places like Ujjayanta, Chittor, Mandavgarh, and Jaur. The famous Jaisalmer Jain Gyan Bhandar is located in the basement of a temple he was associated with.
• He had devout scholars and patrons like Mandan and Dhandadraj, ministers from the Sonigira Shrimal clan in Mandavgarh. A major Siddhanta Kosh (dictionary of principles) written by them is no longer extant, but a copy of the Bhagavati Sutra from the Patan repository has an inscription related to the Mandavgarh repository.
• His own work, "Jinastari Prakaran" (जिनसत्तरी प्रकरण), a Prakrit composition of 210 verses, is known.
• In VS 1484, Jayasagar Upadhyay sent him an important communiqué called "Vijnapti Triveni" (विज्ञप्ति त्रिवेणी), detailing his visit to Nagarkot (Kangra).

4. The Padpraman (Number of Words/Syllables):

• The introduction notes that the "Kulakam" itself does not provide a detailed explanation of the term "pad" (पद). This is important because the stated "padpraman" figures do not align with the current understanding of the Angas. Therefore, relying on the tradition (Shruti parampara - श्रुतिपरम्परा) is deemed appropriate.
• The text then lists the "padpraman" for the eleven Angas:
  • Acharanga Sutra: 72,000
  • Sutrakritanga Sutra: 144,000
  • Sthananga Sutra: 288,000
  • Samavayaṅga Sutra: 576,000
  • Bhagavati Sutra: 1,152,000
  • Jñātādharmakathāṅga Sutra: 2,304,000
  • Upāsaka Daśāṅga Sutra: 4,608,000
  • Antakṛd Daśāṅga Sutra: 9,216,000
  • Anuttaropapātikadaśāṅga Sutra: 18,43,200
  • Praśnavyākaraṇaṅga Sutra: 36,000
  • Vipākaṅga Sutra: 1,84,32,000
• It then describes the Drishtivada (दृष्टिवाद), the fifth Anga, as having five subdivisions: Parikarma, Sutra, Purvagata, Anuyoga, and Chulika.
• The "padpraman" for the fourteen Purvas is then listed:
  1. Utpāda Pūrva: 1,00,00,000
  2. Agrāyanīya Pūrva: 96,00,000
  3. Vīryapravāda Pūrva: 70,00,000
  4. Asti Nāsti Pravāda Pūrva: 60,00,000
  5. Jñāna Pravāda Pūrva: 99,99,999
  6. Satya Pravāda Pūrva: 1,00,00,006
  7. Ātma Pravāda Pūrva: 26,00,00,000
  8. Karma Pravāda Pūrva: 1,00,86,000
  9. Pratyākhyāna Pūrva: 84,00,000
  10. Vidyānupravāda Pūrva: 1,10,00,000
  11. Avandhya Pūrva: 26,00,00,000
  12. Prāṇāyu Pravāda Pūrva: 1,56,00,000
  13. Kriyā Pravāda Pūrva: 9,00,00,000
  14. Lokabindusāra Pūrva: 12,50,00,000
• A manuscript of this "Kulakam" is preserved in the Jaisalmer Gyan Bhandar.

5. The "Kulakam" Stotra (Poem):

• The text then presents the actual "Dwadashangi Pad-Praman Kulakam" in Prakrit, attributed to Jinabhadrusuri.
• The poem begins by invoking the Tirthankara and stating the intention to describe the "padpraman" of the Angas.
• It then reiterates the numerical values for the Angas, starting with Acharanga (18,000 - this seems to be a typo in the text or translation, as it contradicts the earlier list of 72,000 and the poem's verses), Sutrakritanga (36,000 - likewise, contradicts 144,000), Sthananga (72,000 - contradicts 288,000), Samavaya (1 lakh and 4,000 - contradicts 576,000), Bhagavati (2 lakh and 88,000 - contradicts 1,152,000), Jñātādharmakathāṅga (4 crore and 76,000 - contradicts 2,304,000), Upāsaka Daśāṅga (5 lakh and 72,000 - contradicts 4,608,000), Antakṛd Daśāṅga (7 lakh and 52,000 - contradicts 9,216,000), Anuttaropapātikadaśāṅga (9th Anga: 4 lakh and 88,000 - contradicts 18,43,200), and Praśnavyākaraṇa (10th Anga: 36,000 - contradicts 36,000 - this one matches) and Vipāka (11th Anga: 1 crore and 84,32,000 - contradicts 1,84,32,000 - this also matches). Note: There are significant discrepancies between the numerical values listed in the prose introduction and the poetic verses for some Angas. This highlights the point made earlier about the debated meaning of "pad" and reliance on tradition.
• It mentions the total for the eleven Angas is 1 crore 84 lakh 32 thousand.
• It then reiterates the five divisions of Drishtivada.
• It then lists the "padpraman" for the fourteen Purvas again, mirroring the prose list.
• The poem concludes by stating that this "padpraman" is for the entire Dwadashangi ocean of scripture and should be understood according to tradition, not necessarily the Upangas or other scriptures.
• It reaffirms that Tirthankara Vira (Mahavira) revealed the ultimate meaning (paramartha-rupa-artha) of all sutras, and the sutras were composed by the Ganadharas. Therefore, one should meditate on Lord Jinendra Vira to cross the ocean of worldly existence.
• Finally, it states that this "padpraman" of the Angas was written by Jinabhadrusuri, following the commentary of the Nandisutra.

In essence, the document introduces the "Dwadashangi Padpraman Kulakam" as a work by Jinabhadrusuri, providing historical context about the author and then detailing the traditional counts of "pads" in the twelve Angas and fourteen Purvas of the Jain canon, while acknowledging the challenges in definitively interpreting these numbers.