Gandharwad

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Gandharvad" by Bhanuvijay, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Gandharvad (गणधरवाद) Author: Bhanuvijay (पंन्यासजी श्री भानुविजयजी महाराज) Publisher: Jain Sahitya Mandal Prakashan (Divya Darshan Prakashan Department) Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/020336/1

Core Purpose and Theme:

"Gandharvad" aims to establish the fundamental principles of Jainism, particularly the concepts of the soul (Atma), karma, the five elements (Panchabhut), heaven (Swarg), hell (Narak), and liberation (Moksha). It addresses the skepticism and denial of these principles arising from Western influence and materialism, even when faced with evidence of reincarnation. The book's title, "Gandharvad," refers to the debates and discussions held between Lord Mahavir and his eleven chief disciples (Gandharas) before their full initiation. These discussions were centered around resolving the doubts and philosophical questions of these former scholars.

Content and Structure:

The book presents a detailed, logical, and argumentative discussion on various Jain philosophical concepts. It is structured around the eleven Gandharas and the specific doubts or questions they presented to Lord Mahavir, which were then answered by the Jina. The preface highlights the author's intention to provide a strong, reasoned foundation for these core Jain tenets to foster self-improvement and spiritual upliftment.

Key Topics and Arguments (as discussed with the eleven Gandharas):

The book systematically addresses the following profound questions, presented as the doubts of each Gandhara:

1. Indrabhuti (इन्द्रभूति) - Is there a Soul? (आत्मा है?)

   • Indrabhuti, a learned Brahmin, initially denies the existence of an independent soul, arguing that it cannot be directly perceived by the senses.
   • Lord Mahavir counters by proving the soul's existence through various logical arguments (anuman) and indirect evidence, demonstrating it as the independent controller and experiencer of actions, distinct from the body. The soul is described as the director of the 'body-cart,' the one who stops the mind, speech, and body's actions, and the experiencer of mental pleasure and pain. The text delves into the soul's distinct attributes and nature, contrasting it with the insentient body. It also addresses and refutes various philosophical schools like Vedanta, Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya-Vaisheshika, and Buddhism, particularly their views on the soul and the concept of impermanence (Kshanikvada).

2. Agnibhuti (अग्निभूति) - Is there Karma? (कर्म है?)

   • Agnibhuti questions the existence and nature of karma.
   • The discussion explores why karma is not directly visible, its logical validity, its connection to actions like violence, attachment, aversion, and how intangible karma affects the soul. It analyzes concepts like "akasmata" (spontaneity) and the four types of karma (punyanubandhi, etc.), and the relationship between intangible karma and the intangible soul. The author also tackles the concept of God as the creator and refutes notions of absolute emptiness or the world being an illusion.

3. Vayubhuti (वायुभूति) - Is the Body the Soul? (शरीर यही आत्मा?)

   • Vayubhuti's doubt revolves around whether the body is the soul or if they are distinct.
   • The text argues that the body, a collection of elements, is not the soul. It highlights that consciousness (chaitanya) cannot be merely a property of the five elements and refutes the idea that the body itself is the soul by pointing out the limitations of sensory perception and the inability of the body to function without a guiding principle. It also addresses the Buddhist concept of impermanence (Kshanikvada) and its deficiencies.

4. Vyakta (व्यक्त) - Are the Five Elements Real? (पंचभूत सत् ?)

   • Vyakta questions the reality and existence of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) as fundamental constituents of the universe, considering them potentially illusory like a dream.
   • The book argues for the existence of the five elements and refutes the concept of "Sarvashunyata" (absolute emptiness), demonstrating that doubt itself implies existence, and that the world cannot be entirely non-existent. It discusses the nature of reality, existence, origin, and the interconnectedness of phenomena.

5. Sudharma (सुधर्मा) - Is Rebirth the Same? (पुनर्जन्म समान ही ?)

   • Sudharma ponders whether the soul in the next life is identical to the present one.
   • The text discusses the concept of rebirth, differentiating between identical and dissimilar rebirths, attributing the differences to karmic influences and the continuity of the soul. It explains that while the body changes, the soul with its karmic baggage transmigrates.

6. Mandita (मंडित) - Are there Bondage and Liberation? (बंध - मोक्ष हैं ?)

   • Mandita questions whether the soul is inherently pure and free or subject to bondage and subsequent liberation.
   • The book elaborates on the Jain concept of bondage (bandha) through karma and the process of liberation (moksha) by shedding these karmic influences. It addresses the idea of karma being eternal and the possibility of its cessation.

7. Mauryaputra (मौर्यपुत्र) - Are there Deities (Heaven)? (देवता (स्वर्ग) हैं ?)

   • Mauryaputra doubts the existence of heavens and deities.
   • The text presents evidence for the existence of deities and celestial abodes (heavens), explaining them as realms of beings who have accumulated significant merit (punya). It discusses their abodes (vimanas) and the reasons for their perceived "Maya" (illusory nature) from a worldly perspective.

8. Akampita (अकंपित) - Are there Hell-dwellers (Hell)? (नारक हैं ?)

   • Akampita questions the existence of hell and hell-dwellers.
   • The book provides arguments for the existence of hellish realms, explaining them as places of intense suffering experienced by souls who have accumulated severe negative karma (papa). It explains that while hellish beings are not directly perceived by ordinary senses, their existence is proven through logical inference and the accounts of omniscient beings.

9. Achalbhraata (अचल भ्राता) - Are Virtue and Vice Separate? (पुण्य-पाप भिन्न हैं ?)

   • Achalbhraata questions whether virtue (punya) and vice (papa) are distinct entities or merely different aspects of the same thing.
   • The text argues for the distinctness of punya and papa, explaining how they are generated by different actions and intentions and lead to different karmic consequences. It refutes theories of mixed karma and emphasizes that virtue and vice are independent karmic streams.

10. Metarya (मेतार्य) - Is there an Afterlife? (परलोक है ?)

    • Metarya doubts the existence of an afterlife.
    • The book reaffirms the concept of the afterlife, explaining the continuity of the soul and its karmic journey through transmigration. It discusses the principles of utpad-vyay-dhrauvya (origination, decay, permanence) and how the soul, while experiencing changes in its manifestations (modalities), remains fundamentally eternal.

11. Prabhas (प्रभास) - Is there Liberation? (मोक्ष है ?)

    • Prabhas questions the existence of liberation (Moksha).
    • The text elaborates on the nature of liberation as the complete cessation of karmic bondage and the attainment of the soul's pure, omniscient, and bliss-filled state. It explains that liberation is not annihilation but the realization of the soul's inherent nature, free from worldly limitations. It also clarifies the meaning of "ashareeram" (bodiless) and the experience of eternal bliss in Moksha, free from the cycle of birth and death.

Methodology and Sources:

The book is deeply rooted in Jain Agamas and scriptures, citing sources like "Shri Visheshavashyak Bhashya," "Shri Nandi Sutra Tika," and "Shri Ratnakaravtarika." The author, Bhanuvijayji Maharaj, employs rigorous logic, deductive reasoning, and dialectical analysis to systematically address the complex philosophical queries raised by the Gandharas.

Significance and Outreach:

The publication of "Gandharvad" in Hindi aims to fill a void in the availability of Jain philosophical literature for Hindi-speaking audiences, complementing its existing Gujarati version. The Jain Literature Publication Mandal (Jain Sahitya Prakashan Mandal) and its branch, Divya Darshan Prakashan, were established with the goal of disseminating Jain teachings, ethical principles, the path to liberation, and stories through publications. The five-year plan mentioned in the preface indicates a broader initiative to make Jain literature accessible.

Overall Message:

"Gandharvad" is a comprehensive and persuasive exposition of Jain philosophy, designed to clarify fundamental truths, foster intellectual understanding, and encourage spiritual progress. It highlights the Jain emphasis on reasoned inquiry and the possibility of attaining liberation through right knowledge, right faith, and right conduct, as demonstrated through the enlightenment of Lord Mahavir's principal disciples.