Kalyanako Me Gyan Kalyanak - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, focusing on the "Gyan Kalyanak" (Knowledge Ceremony) in English:

The text, titled "Kalyanako me Gyan Kalyanak" (Knowledge Ceremony among the Auspicious Events) by Dr. Kanchedilal Jain, emphasizes the profound significance of the Gyan Kalyanak, one of the five auspicious ceremonies of a Tirthankara.

Understanding "Tirthankara" and "Tirth":

The book begins by defining a "Tirthankara" as a "tirth," which means a "ghat" or a crossing point. Just as a ghat on a river or lake allows one to easily cross over, a Tirthankara helps souls navigate the ocean of Samsara (the cycle of birth and death). The text likens the three benefits of a river ghat – cooling the body, quenching thirst, and purification from dirt – to the three benefits of a Tirthankara's spiritual discourse (Vani):

Shattering worldly heat (Sántap): Their teachings calm the mental anguish of worldly existence.
Quenching desires (Trishna): Their words satisfy the thirst for worldly possessions and pleasures.
Purifying the soul: Their teachings remove the impurities of karmas (both material and mental) from the soul.

The "Agam" (scriptures) and "Shruta Dharma" (knowledge of the Dharma) are also considered "tirths."

The Five Kalyanakas and Their Counterparts:

The five great auspicious events (Pancha Mahakalyanak) of a Tirthankara are: Garbha (Conception), Janma (Birth), Tapa (Asceticism), Gyan (Knowledge), and Moksha (Liberation). These five Kalyanakas are seen as the direct opposites of the five "Akalyanaka" (inauspicious events) or "Punaravartan" (revolutions) of a soul trapped in Samsara, which are caused by deluded actions in terms of substance, place, time, state, and rebirth. By understanding and reflecting on the Tirthankaras' five Kalyanakas, a soul can find a path to escape these five repetitions and ultimately achieve the fifth state, Moksha.

The Special Significance of Gyan Kalyanak:

The text highlights that the greatest benefit to living beings occurs after the Tirthankara attains Gyan Kalyanak. This is because it is only after becoming fully enlightened that a Tirthankara delivers their spiritual discourses (Divya Dhvani), which guide souls towards their own liberation. While beings attain liberation in every Upasarpini and Avsarpini era, the text notes that there are only twenty-four Tirthankaras.

The text explains that the profound aspiration to alleviate the suffering of beings burning in the fire of attachment and to guide them to the path of happiness is what leads to the bondage of the Tirthankara nature. This aspiration stems from sixteen specific contemplations, with Darshan Vishuddhi (purity of right faith) being the most crucial.

When Tirthankara Nature is Bound:

The Tirthankara nature is bound by a right-believing soul in the presence of a Kevali (fully enlightened being) or Shrutakevali (one who has perfect knowledge of scriptures). The text states that in the current Bharata region, no Tirthankara nature can be bound due to the absence of Kevalis or Shrutakevalis.

The True Manifestation of Tirthankara Nature:

The true emergence of the Tirthankara nature occurs upon the attainment of Keval Gyan (Omniscience). Before this, during their worldly existence (Chaddmastha), they do not preach. However, it is through their teachings that beings achieve their true welfare. This is why the Namokar Mantra begins with "Namo Arihantanam" (Homage to the Arihants), as the Arihant stage, with their divine voice, brings the greatest benefit to the world. The strong aspiration that led to the Tirthankara nature is realized in the Arihant state, making the Gyan Kalyanak particularly important.

Tirthankaras with Fewer Kalyanakas:

The text differentiates between Tirthankaras:

Tirthankaras of the Videsha region: Some of these may have previously bound the Tirthankara nature, thus having all five Kalyanakas. Others might bind the Tirthankara nature in their current human life, often as householders. Being the last body (Charam Shariri), they attain liberation in the same life, thus having only Tapa, Gyan, and Moksha as their Kalyanakas. Some, who took vows as monks and then bound the Tirthankara nature in that monkhood, have only Gyan and Moksha as their Kalyanakas, as they were already practicing austerities. In all these cases, Gyan Kalyanak is present and lasts for a longer duration compared to Moksha.

The Attainment of Arihant State and its Boons:

Upon attaining the Arihant state, even if liberation isn't immediate, one experiences infinite bliss. This stage bestows nine types of attainments (Labdhis), including knowledge, right faith, conduct, charity, gain, enjoyment, and strength. These attainments manifest as extraordinary powers, such as knowledge-giving charity, fearlessness charity, sustenance without food, divine flower showers by gods, and the presence of the Samavasharana.

Tirthankaras vs. General Kevalis:

Souls who attain liberation without binding the Tirthankara nature are called "general Kevalis." They also attain Omniscience but do not have the specific qualities or the same level of worldly welfare associated with Tirthankaras. While general Kevalis also preach, they do not have the Samavasharana; instead, they have a Gandhakuti (fragrant chamber). Some general Kevalis may even be "mute Kevalis" who do not preach before their liberation.

The Ten Specific Atishayas of Gyan Kalyanak:

The text mentions that Tirthankaras have ten specific birth Atishayas (extraordinary characteristics), which are present in those with five Kalyanakas. However, the ten Atishayas related to Keval Gyan (Omniscience) are common to all Tirthankaras. These include:

Prosperity in a hundred-yojana radius.
Absence of calamities like excessive or insufficient rain.
Their bodies not causing harm to any living being.
These Atishayas bring happiness and alleviate suffering for beings.

When combined with the fourteen Atishayas created by gods during the Gyan Kalyanak, there are a total of twenty-four Atishayas associated with Omniscience. These divine creations also contribute to the well-being of other beings, including the disappearance of animosity between opposing creatures and a pleasant atmosphere. The eight Pratiharyas (special attendants) are also present during the time of Omniscience.

The Samavasharana:

The Samavasharana, a divine assembly, features twelve sections where beings from all walks of life – gods, disciples, monks, goddesses, emperors, kings, Vidyadharas, humans, women, and even animals and birds – sit together without animosity, listening to the beneficial teachings. During the discourse, there is no childbirth, death, lust, disease, addiction, hunger, or thirst. The Samavasharana has the power to restore sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and mobility to the lame. It heals the sick, transforms the leprous, and neutralizes venom. Enmities are dissolved. The divine aura of the Tirthankara eliminates darkness, making it impossible to distinguish day from night, allowing all to benefit from the teachings, even those that are delivered at midnight.

The State of Siddha:

The text concludes by describing the state of a Siddha (liberated soul) as beyond all experience and causality. Siddhas are free from karmic bondage and external objects, thus experiencing neither pleasure nor pain. They remain absorbed in infinite supreme bliss. The state of a Siddha is synonymous with Nirvana. In Nirvana, there is no suffering, no karma, no good or bad contemplation, no afflictions, no death or birth, no experience, no delusion, no desire, and no hunger. Instead, there is complete inner enlightenment, knowledge, supreme bliss, power, and pure existence. The text quotes from "Acharanga" to describe the Siddha state as a realm where imagination cannot reach, and from which all sounds return. Siddhas are formless, unattached, and transcend all gender classifications, seeing and knowing in an incomparable manner.