Jain Dharm

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Dharm" by Kailashchandra Shastri, based on the provided table of contents and the initial pages:

Book Title: Jain Dharm (Jain Dharma) Author: Siddhantacharya Shri Kailashchandra Shastri Publisher: Bharatiya Digambar Sangh Foreword By: Shri Dr. Sampurnanand, Governor of Rajasthan

This book, published by the Bharatiya Digambar Sangh, is intended to provide an authentic introduction to Jainism, covering its history, principles, conduct, literature, art, archaeology, sects, festivals, and pilgrimage sites.

Foreword by Dr. Sampurnanand: Dr. Sampurnanand, despite not being a follower of Jainism, expresses his pleasure in writing the foreword after reading the book. He praises its comprehensive nature, despite its brevity, in covering all essential aspects of Jainism. He notes that the book respectfully points out what it perceives as misinterpretations of principles, such as Shankara's view on Syadvada, without resorting to disrespectful language. He emphasizes the significant contribution of Jain thought to Indian culture in areas like architecture, sculpture, and literature. He highlights the importance of educated people understanding Jain philosophy, particularly its views on God, soul, the universe, and liberation, even if not all the details of monastic conduct or sectarian disputes are of universal interest. He acknowledges that Jain philosophy considers the world to be real, which contrasts with Shankara's Advaita but is not inconsistent with other theistic traditions. He also notes that while Jainism is considered "nastik" (atheistic) for not accepting the Vedas as proof, it shares concepts like Karma, penance, Yoga, and belief in idols with Indian theistic and Buddhist philosophies, suggesting a common origin in ancient Indian spiritual heritage. He particularly values the concept of Anekantavada (multi-faceted reality) and finds it more acceptable than the need to scrutinize every nuance of the Syat-saptabhangi (the Jain logical method).

Author's Introduction (Lekhak ke Do Shabd): Kailashchandra Shastri addresses the need for a book that could serve as a comprehensive introduction to Jainism for the general public. He mentions a reward offered for such a book, indicating the felt need. He explains that the book covers both the philosophical (vicharatmak) and practical (achar atmak) aspects of Jainism, along with its literature, history, sectarian divisions, festivals, and pilgrimage sites. He critiques the common Indian belief that all Indian religions originate from the Upanishads, suggesting that this is more faith-based than critical analysis. He expresses gratitude to Dr. Sampurnanand for writing the foreword and acknowledges the sources that aided him, including Professor Glasenapp's work on Jainism and Shri Nathuram Premi's "Jain Sahitya aur Itihas." He also mentions an article by the late Shri Surajbhanu Vakil on the world's creation as an inspiration for a chapter. He requests feedback for future editions.

Second Edition Remarks: The author expresses surprise and gratitude for the book's popularity, leading to a second edition within six months of the first. He notes the praise from various periodicals and scholars and its acceptance by Banaras Hindu University for their B.A. (Honours) Philosophy curriculum. He mentions a prize received from Seth Lalchand Sethi of Ujjain and the addition of new chapters on Jain Art and Archaeology and Jain Acharyas, with a glossary of Jain technical terms.

Third Edition Remarks: The third edition highlights the book's continued popularity, evidenced by reader demand. A suggestion was made to include a chapter on "Jain Heroes" and to retitle the book to emphasize Jainism as "Kshatra Dharma" and "universal eternal truth of the Self." While the title was not changed to avoid potential misinterpretations, a chapter on "Some Jain Heroes" was added. The history section was reorganized, with new sections on Jainism in the Kalachuri and Vijayanagara kingdoms. Some chapters were revised based on feedback, including those on the Sthanakvasi and Terapanth sects.

Fourth Edition Remarks: The fourth edition, released after eleven years, includes further additions to the history and miscellaneous sections. It mentions the publication of a Marathi version and the preparation of a Kannada version, while expressing the need for an English edition due to a similar lack of comprehensive books in that language. The page count has increased, and despite rising printing costs, the price has been kept the same for promotional purposes.

Table of Contents (Varnan - Vishay Suchi): The table of contents outlines the book's extensive coverage:

• 1. History (Itihas): From the earliest period, mentioning the antiquity of Jainism, its independent nature from Buddhism, and the acceptance of Rishabhadeva as the first Tirthankara. It covers the geographical spread of Jainism in India (Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Central Provinces, Uttar Pradesh, South India) and mentions historical inscriptions and dynasties like the Ganga, Hoysala, Rashtrakuta, and Kadamba. It also details the lives and teachings of Rishabhadeva, Neminath, Parshvanath, and Mahavir.
• 2. Principles (Siddhant): Explains what Jainism is, focusing on Anekantavada (non-one-sidedness) and Syadvada (the doctrine of manifold predications), and the Seven-Sided Logic (Saptabhangi). It delves into the metaphysics of substances (dravya), the soul (jiva), non-living matter (ajiva), and their constituents (pudgala, dharma, adharma, akasha, kala). It discusses the Jain view of God, worship, the universe, and the Karma theory.
• 3. Conduct (Charitra): Covers the path to liberation, the nature of conduct (achar), the principle of non-violence (ahimsa) in domestic and monastic life, the conduct of a lay follower (shravaka), the daily routine of a monk, and the stages of spiritual progress (gunasthanas). It also discusses liberation (moksha) and the question of whether Jainism is atheistic.
• 4. Jain Literature (Jain Sahitya): Distinguishes between Digambara and Shvetambara literature, lists prominent Jain Acharyas, and discusses various categories of Jain texts.
• 5. Jain Art and Archaeology (Jain Kala aur Puratattva): Covers Jain painting, sculpture, and architecture, citing examples from various regions and historical periods.
• 6. Social Aspect (Samajik Roop): Discusses the Jain Sangha, sectarian divisions (Digambara, Shvetambara, Sthanakvasi, Terapanth, Yapaniya, Kurchaka, Ardh-sphataka), and the contributions of Jain monks and patrons.
• 7. Miscellaneous (Vividh): Includes sections on Jain heroes, Jain festivals (Dashlakshan, Ashtahnika, Mahavir Jayanti, Shruta Panchami, Diwali, Raksha Bandhan), pilgrimage sites across different regions of India, and a comparison of Jainism with Hinduism and Buddhism.

The book appears to be a foundational text for understanding Jainism, written with scholarly rigor and a deep appreciation for the subject matter, as indicated by the foreword and the author's preface. The detailed table of contents suggests a thorough exploration of Jain traditions and history.