Jain Thought And Culture

This comprehensive summary synthesizes the key themes and arguments presented in the provided Jain text, "Jain Thought and Culture," edited by G.C. Pande.

Overall Scope and Purpose:

"Jain Thought and Culture" is a collection of essays that explores the multifaceted aspects of Jainism, encompassing its philosophical underpinnings, historical development, cultural impact, and artistic expressions. Published by the University of Rajasthan, it aims to contribute to a renewed interest in Jain studies and secure its place in higher education curricula. The preface highlights Jainism's ancient roots, its distinctive worldview contrasting with Vedic traditions, and its remarkable tenacity in preserving its core principles, even as it remained a minority faith.

Key Themes and Arguments from the Essays:

The essays cover a wide range of topics, each shedding light on different dimensions of Jain thought and culture:

1. Philosophical and Logical Foundations:

• Kriyāvāda (Emphasis on Action): G.C. Pande's opening essay establishes the centrality of kriyāvāda (the doctrine of action or kriya) in Jaina logic. This concept emphasizes the soul's inherent power and freedom of will in working out its salvation, contrasting with doctrines that might emphasize predestination or external grace. This focus on kriya has profound implications for Jaina metaphysics, asserting the reality of change and the modifiability of beings and the world. Jaina logic, through anekānta (non-one-sidedness), naya (standpoints), and syādvāda (conditional predication), refines this understanding, aiming for a nuanced comprehension of reality rather than rigid, absolute claims. The essay contrasts Jaina logic with Western approaches, emphasizing its goal of practically significant knowledge.
• Rational and Abstract Thought: Chandrakant G. Rajurkar traces the emergence of rational and abstract thought in Jainism, situating it within the broader socio-religious ferment of the 6th century BC. He highlights Jainism's departure from Vedic ritualism and its emphasis on reason. The development of concepts like anekāntavada and syādvāda exemplifies this rational and abstract tendency, offering a framework for synthesizing seemingly conflicting philosophical viewpoints. The essay also touches upon the Jain cosmology and its abstract concepts like dharma and adharma.

2. Comparative Religious and Social History:

• Early Jain and Buddhist Monachism: G.S.P. Misra offers a comparative analysis of early Jain and Buddhist monachism, noting their shared śramaṇa origins, their rejection of Vedic authority, and their emphasis on asceticism. However, he also identifies key differences in their monastic codes, organizational structures (Jainism including laity more formally), and leadership succession. He discusses common institutional observances like uposatha and varsavasa, noting the distinct Jain interpretation of uposatha as a lay observance.
• Akbar and Jainism: V.S. Bhatnagar details the significant interaction between Emperor Akbar and Jainism, particularly through the influence of Jain scholars like Hira Vijaya Suri. Akbar's sincere quest for truth led him to engage with Jain philosophy, and he was notably impressed by the concept of ahiṁsā (non-violence). This engagement resulted in significant concessions for the Jain community during Akbar's reign, demonstrating a period of religious tolerance and intellectual exchange.
• Medieval Jain Historical Literature and Historiography: G.N. Sharma examines the evolution of historical writing within Jain traditions, noting its affinity with Puranic and classical styles. He discusses various categories of Jain literature, including katha kāvyas, purānas, and prabandhas, highlighting their blend of religious, mythical, and semi-historical narratives. The advent of the Turks influenced this literature, leading to a greater emphasis on secular themes like royal genealogies and political events.
• Social Life of the Jain Laity in 19th Century Rajasthan: Jai Narayan Asopa provides an insightful account of the social and economic life of Jain communities in 19th-century Rajasthan, particularly focusing on Oswals, Porwals, and Saravagis. He discusses their occupational patterns (trade, finance), social customs (marriage, mourning rites), their complex relationship with Rajput culture and surnames, and their internal religious divisions (e.g., Mandir Margi vs. Terapanthi). The essay highlights how Jain identity was shaped by both religious adherence and socio-economic integration within the regional context.

3. Artistic and Iconographic Contributions:

• Rajasthan's Contribution to Jain Iconography: Ratna Chandra Agrawala showcases Rajasthan's significant contributions to Jain art and iconography, particularly from the 7th century AD onwards. The essay details the evolution of Jina images, including early bronzes, colossal statues, and representations of Yakshas and Yakshis associated with the Tirthankaras. It highlights the integration of local deities like Sachchika into the Jain pantheon.
• Colossal Jina Image of Garh: Neelima Vashishtha focuses on the colossal Jina image at Garh (Alwar), placing it within the broader Indian tradition of monumental Jina sculptures. The essay discusses the artistic ideals of loftiness, beauty, and supernatural power in these sculptures and analyzes the stylistic features of the Garh image, noting its serene expression and its approximate dating to the 10th century AD based on inscriptions.
• Illustrated Manuscript from Malavadesa Dated VS 1820: Chandramani Singh analyzes an illustrated Jain manuscript from the 18th century, highlighting its artistic and thematic significance. The manuscript, written in Sanskrit, Maru-Gurjar, and old Hindi, features a variety of kathas related to Jain religious practices. The paintings, while conventional in depicting religious figures, show creative interpretations of Jain principles and incorporate scenes from contemporary life, exhibiting influences from Mewar painting styles.
• Mala Devi Temple at Gyaraspur: Krishna Deva provides a detailed architectural and iconographic analysis of the Mala Devi Temple at Gyaraspur, dating it to the late 9th century AD. The essay argues convincingly that the temple, despite its initial misclassification as Brahmanical, was originally a Jain temple, evidenced by the prominent depiction of Jinas, Yakshas (like Chakreshvari, Dharanendra), and Yakshis (like Ambika, Padmavati) in its architecture and sculpture.
• Jain Icons from Keshava Rai Patana: B.M.S. Parmar discusses Jain icons found in the 'Bhulbhulaya' temple at Keshava Rai Patana, dating from the 10th to 15th centuries AD. The essay highlights the adherence of these icons to established Jain iconography, including specific cognizances and the kayotsarga and padmasana postures.
• Devananda's Dream: An Interpretation of its Symbolism: S.K. Gupta explores the symbolism of the auspicious dreams reported by the mothers of Tirthankaras, particularly Devananda's dream of fourteen objects. The essay argues that these symbols, representing fertility, divinity, and royalty, were not exclusively of Jain origin but were borrowed from the broader Indian cultural and religious tradition, becoming integrated into Jain art and lore.
• Music in the Thānamga Sūtra: Mukund Lath analyzes the musicological information contained within the Thānamga Sūtra, one of the primary canonical texts of Jainism. While acknowledging its brevity and fragmented nature, the essay extracts valuable insights into ancient Indian musical concepts like svaras (notes), sthānas (locations of production), grāmas, mūrchanās, and tānas. It notes the unique Jain classifications of svaras related to living beings and non-living objects, and the correlation of musical notes with colors, social castes, and deities, reflecting a broader ancient Indian metaphysical worldview.

4. Scholarly Context and Objectives:

The introductory sections and the nature of the essays clearly indicate that this book is intended for an academic audience, contributing to scholarly understanding of Jainism. The publication by the University of Rajasthan underscores this academic focus, and the editor's preface expresses a hope for the continued growth of Jain Studies. The inclusion of a "Fair Use Declaration" by "The Free Indological Collection" points to an effort to make rare and valuable texts accessible for educational and research purposes.

In essence, "Jain Thought and Culture" provides a rich tapestry of scholarly insights into Jainism, revealing its profound philosophical depth, its intricate historical journey, its vibrant cultural interactions, and its significant artistic legacy.