Jitkalpasutra

This document is a preface to the Jitkalpasutra (જીતકલ્પસૂત્ર), a Jain religious text. Here's a comprehensive summary in English based on the provided pages:

1. Editorial Approach and Sources:

• The current edition of the Jitkalpasutra is based on a newly written manuscript from the Jain Gyan Bhandar (Jain Knowledge Repository) in Vadodara.
• This Vadodara manuscript was corrected by the editor using an improved ancient manuscript from the Jain Gyan Bhandar in Limbdi.
• In addition to these primary manuscripts, the editor also consulted other important Jain texts for correction and purification, including:
  • Aavashyak Niyukti (આવશ્યક નિયુક્તિ)
  • Pind Niyukti (પિંડ નિવૃત્તિ)
  • Oghanuyukti (ઓઘનિયુક્તિ)
  • Vyavahara Bhashya (વ્યવહાર ભાષ્ય)
  • Brihat Kalpa Bhashya (બૃહત્કલ્પભાષ્ય)
  • Panchakalpa Bhashya (પંચકલ્પભાષ્ય)
• The editor emphasizes their effort to make the present text as accurate as possible.

2. Notable Features of the Manuscript:

The editor identified two special features in the manuscript:

• "Parasvarnavishayak" (પાસવર્ણવિષયક): This refers to the use of a specific type of annotation or commentary, possibly related to alternate readings or explanations, which has been present since ancient times.
• Verse Numbering and Page Indicators: At the end of the commentary for each verse (gatha), there are indications using letter codes that correspond to the page numbers found in palm-leaf manuscripts. While these were likely present throughout the entire manuscript, some have been lost or altered due to the ignorance of scribes. The editor has retained these features as they appear in their manuscript.

3. Nature of the Jitkalpa Bhashya:

• The Jitkalpa Bhashya (જીતકલ્પભાષ્ય) is described as a collection of verses (gathas) from other significant Jain texts like Kalpa Bhashya, Vyavahara Bhashya, Panchakalpa Bhashya, and Pind Niryukti. This is because many verses in the Jitkalpa Bhashya can be verbatim compared to verses found in these other texts.

4. Authorship of the Jitkalpasutra and its Bhashya:

• The Jitkalpasutra itself is attributed to Bhagwan Jinbhadra Gani Kshama Shraman (ભગવાન જિનભદ્રગણિ ક્ષમાશ્રમણ). This is presented as an undisputed fact.
• The preface refers to a detailed discussion on this matter and the timeline of Bhagwan Jinbhadra Gani in the preface of the Jitkalpasutra edited by the respected Shri Jinavijayji (mentioning a specific publication).
• The primary question discussed here is the authorship of the Jitkalpa Bhashya.
• The preface notes that the author of the Bhashya does not explicitly mention their name anywhere in the text, making definitive attribution challenging.
• However, the editor draws attention to a specific verse in the Bhashya: "तिसमयहारादीणं, गाहाणऽट्टण्ह वी सरूवं तु / वित्थरयो वप्णेज्जा, जह हेट्ठाऽऽवस्सए भणियं // 61 //"
• The editor questions the inclusion of the word "हेठा" (heta), arguing that simply stating "न आवश्शए" (na aavashshae - not necessary) would suffice. They interpret "हेठा" not as a filler word but as a pointer to something preceding.
• Based on the usage of "हेठा" and "त" to mean "previous" and "underneath" respectively in other contexts (e.g., "हेठां" meaning "previously" and "अंशु" meaning "between"), the editor concludes that the author of the Jitkalpa explained the nature of eight verses, including those related to Tishyamaya, extensively as described previously in the Aavashyak.
• The editor then strongly asserts that Bhagwan Jinbhadra Gani Kshama Shraman is the only one who could have provided the detailed commentary on verses like "Gavavastha Tishyamaya" found within the Aavashyak Niyukti. Therefore, the editor firmly believes that Bhagwan Shri Jinbhadra Gani Kshama Shraman is the author of the Jitkalpa Bhashya.
• The preface acknowledges two known commentators (Bhashyakara): Bhagwan Shri Sanghadas Gani Kshama Shraman and Pujya Shri Jinabhadra Gani Kshama Shraman.
• It is stated that the author of Kalpa Brihat Bhashya and similar works is uncertain, and the editor believes it might be a third, different Acharya.
• Despite the uncertainty about the author of Kalpa Brihat Bhashya, the editor asserts that there is no contradiction in the Jitkalpa Bhashya containing verses from the Bhashya works of the earlier Bhagwan Shri Sanghadas Gani Kshama Shraman, given the renowned status of Pujya Shri Jinabhadra Gani Kshama Shraman as a great commentator.

5. Subject Matter of the Book:

• The subject matter of the present book is the description of penances for various offenses committed by Jain monks and nuns (Nirgrantha and Nirgranthi), based on the principles of the Kalpa Vyavahara (Rules of Conduct).
• The exact subject matter can be clearly understood from the table of contents.

6. Editor's Closing Remark:

• The editor concludes by requesting forgiveness from scholars for any errors that may have remained despite the carefulness exercised during the research and editing process, and asks them to correct and read the book accordingly.