Jain Agam Itihas Evam Sanskriti - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Agam Itihas Evam Sanskriti" by Rekha Chaturvedi, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Jain Agam Itihas Evam Sanskriti (Jain Agam: History and Culture) Author: Rekha Chaturvedi Publisher: Anamika Publishers and Distributors P L

Core Theme and Significance:

The book "Jain Agam Itihas Evam Sanskriti" by Rekha Chaturvedi is a scholarly exploration of Jain Agam literature, focusing on its historical and cultural significance. The Agam texts, particularly the Acharanga Sutra, SuttaKritanga, and Uttaradhyayana Sutra, are highlighted for their antiquity, competing in historical importance with Buddhist literature.

Key Areas of Coverage and Contribution:

The book utilizes these Agam texts as primary sources to compile crucial information about various aspects of ancient Indian society and Jain culture:

Minds of the Era: It delves into the prevailing mindset of the society during the Agam period.
Shraman Culture: It traces the origin and development of the Shraman tradition.
Religious Beliefs and Philosophical Sects: It outlines the religious beliefs and the tenets of various philosophical schools, especially within Jainism.
Jain Sangha and its Evolution: It provides insights into the structure and growth of the Jain Sangha, including its four-fold organization (monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen), the life within the Sangha, and instances of schisms.
Jain Ethics and Philosophy: The book discusses the core Jain ethical principles, such as the Great Vows (Mahavratas) and the lesser vows (Anuvratas).
Comparative Religious Analysis: It successfully compares and contrasts Jain philosophy and ethics with Brahmanical and Buddhist traditions, drawing parallels and highlighting distinctions.
Socio-Political and Economic Landscape: The research successfully analyzes the political conditions of the Agam period, significant events, republican systems (Gan Vyavastha), monarchies (Nrip Tantra), political concepts, social structures, economic conditions, various social institutions, and the prevailing economic practices.

Specific Contributions Highlighted:

Ancient India's Societal Fabric: The book offers a detailed interpretation of the socio-political and economic conditions of ancient India, making it highly valuable for scholars in these fields.
Jain Ethics and Philosophy: It systematically examines Jain ethics, including the discussion of Mahavratas and Anuvratas, along with a comparative analysis with Brahmanical and Buddhist texts.
Jain Sangha and its Dynamics: The work focuses on the nature, administration, four-fold structure, hierarchy of officials, life within the Sangha, and the reasons for its divisions.
Economic Conditions: The study details the agrarian economy, crops, irrigation systems, occupations, industries, labor, wages, weights and measures, and the condition of laborers during the Agam period.
Historical Context: It explores the political situation, key events, republican systems, monarchies, ideal kings, the concept of Chakravarti, and administrative structures of the Agam era.

Introduction (Aamukh) by Bhumitra Dev:

The introductory section by Bhumitra Dev (former Vice-Chancellor, Rohilkhand University) emphasizes the book's contribution to understanding Indian culture through the systematic presentation of knowledge from Jain Agam literature. He notes the shared reverence for Rishabh Dev among Hindus and Jains. The introduction also touches upon the intellectual climate of ancient India, the emphasis on conduct over thought in Jainism, the strict rules for character building, and the importance of penance. It highlights the challenges of preserving knowledge through oral traditions and the value of studying Jain texts for understanding communication purity. The introduction praises the author for her detailed exposition based on key Agam texts like Acharanga Sutra, SuttaKritanga, and Uttaradhyayana Sutra, calling it the first comprehensive work of its kind in Hindi.

Preface (Prakathan) by Prof. Uday Prakash Arora:

Prof. Uday Prakash Arora (Head, Department of Ancient History and Culture, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University) highlights the book's connection to Shraman culture, originating as a reaction to Vedic rituals. He points out the Upanishadic critique of rituals and the subsequent rise of Shraman traditions emphasizing asceticism and detachment. The preface discusses the potential scholarly debate on the origins of Shraman culture and the influence between Vedic, Jain, and Buddhist traditions. It emphasizes the Jain focus on karma over birth, the concept of Anekantavada (non-absolutism) and Syadvada (conditional predication), the humanistic approach of Jainism, and the principle of Aparigraha (non-possession) for addressing economic inequality. The preface also commends Jainism's rigorous adherence to Ahimsa (non-violence) and its impact on other Indian communities. It acknowledges the patronage of Jainism by various dynasties and its significant contributions to literature and art, noting the preservation of Jainism in India despite Buddhism's foreign spread.

Author's Introduction (Bhumika):

Dr. Rekha Chaturvedi states her intention to provide a comprehensive overview of the vast Agam literature, which contains elements of religion, philosophy, culture, metaphysics, mathematics, astronomy, ethics, and history. She aims to fill the gap for a holistic and authoritative compilation on these diverse dimensions of Jain culture. Her research is structured into seven chapters:

Historical and Cultural Study of Jain Agam Literature: Focuses on the historical context, challenges in literature preservation, and debates surrounding Agam dates and compilations.
Religious and Philosophical Thoughts of the Agam Period: Explores the societal mindset, the origin and development of Shraman culture, religious beliefs, and philosophical schools.
Nature of the Jain Sangha: Examines the structure, administration, four-fold system, and divisions within the Sangha.
Nature of Jain Ethics: Discusses the conduct of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, Jain principles, Mahavratas and Anuvratas, and comparative analysis with other religions.
Social Philosophy and Social System: Analyzes social institutions, theoretical beliefs, practical aspects, and compares Agam-era social and cultural practices with Brahmanical and Buddhist texts.
Political and Historical Details: Presents the political situation, significant events, republican and monarchical systems, ideal kings, and administrative bodies of the Agam period.
Economic Conditions and Economy: Details the agrarian economy, crops, irrigation, trades, industries, labor, wages, weights and measures, and the condition of workers.

Overall Contribution:

The book is presented as a valuable resource for students, teachers, researchers, and anyone interested in Jain history and culture. It aims to illuminate the historical and cultural richness embedded within the foundational Jain Agam texts. The work is recognized for its detailed analysis and for being a pioneering effort in presenting such a comprehensive study in Hindi, drawing heavily from key Agam scriptures.