Kaysthiti Prakaranam

This document is a Jain text titled "Kaysthiti Prakaranam" (कायस्थितिप्रकरणम्), which translates to "Chapter on Duration of Existence." It was authored by Veershekharvijay and Gunratnavijay and published by Bharatiya Prachya Tattva Samiti. The catalog link provided is for JainQQ.org.

The text primarily deals with the concept of Kaysthiti (कायस्थिति), which refers to the duration of a living being's existence in a particular state or form. It meticulously details the utkrushta (उत्कृष्ट - excellent/maximum) and jaghanya (जघन्य - minimum/least) durations of existence across various categories of beings and their circumstances, as understood within Jain philosophy.

Here's a breakdown of the key aspects covered in the text, based on the provided pages:

Core Concepts and Structure:

• Kaysthiti (कायस्थिति): The central theme is the duration of a soul's existence in a specific physical form (kaya) or state (margaṇa). It's analyzed based on different types of existence (gati), sensory faculties (indriya), body types (kaya), states of consciousness and karmic influences (yoga, veda, kashaya), knowledge (jnana), conduct (samyama), perception (darshana), and dispositions (leshya, bhavyatva).
• Margana Sthanas (मार्गणास्थान): The text systematically categorizes and analyzes the duration of existence based on various margaṇa sthānas (categories of existences or states of being). The introduction mentions "one hundred and seventy-four margaṇa sthānas" (chatus saptatyuttara shata margaṇānāṁ) as the basis for this study.
• Utkrushta and Jaghanya (उत्कृष्ट and जघन्य): For each category, the text distinguishes between the maximum (utkrushta) and minimum (jaghanya) possible durations of existence.
• One-Soul Basis (Eka Jiva Ashritya - एकजीवमाश्रित्य): The durations are calculated from the perspective of a single soul.
• Commentary and Interpretation: The text includes a commentary (Prakāshikā or Vritti) which explains the verses and the underlying Jain philosophical principles.
• References to Scriptures: The authors frequently cite and refer to other important Jain scriptures like the Prajnaapanasutra (प्रज्ञापनासूत्र), Tatvarthasutra (तत्त्वार्थसूत्र), and others to support their explanations.

Key Areas of Analysis and Examples (based on the provided pages):

1. Hell Beings (Naraka - नरक):

   • The text begins by analyzing the utkrushta kayasthiti for different types of hell beings.
   • It specifies durations for beings in the first seven hells (Ratnaprabha to Mahatamaprabha), noting that hell dwellers do not reincarnate into hell immediately after leaving it.
   • It delves into intricate calculations of durations based on specific prastatas (प्रस्तट - layers or divisions within a hell realm), showing how these durations vary even within the same hell. The calculations involve fractions of Sagaropamas (सागरोपम - a unit of time in Jain cosmology).

2. Heavenly Beings (Deva - देव):

   • The utkrushta kayasthiti for various classes of heavenly beings is detailed, including:
     • Bhavana-pati (भवनपति): Duration is sa-tīrka sāgaropama (सातिरेक सागरोपम - more than one Sagaropama).
     • Vyantara (व्यन्तर): Duration is one Palyopama (पल्यापम - another unit of time).
     • Jyotishka (ज्योतिष्क): Duration is more than one Palyopama.
     • Vaimanika (वैमानिक): The text elaborates on the durations for beings in different celestial planes (e.g., Saudharma, Ishana, Sanatkumara, etc.), with durations increasing significantly as one ascends to higher planes, reaching up to thirty-three Sagaropamas for the highest heavens (Anuttara).
   • It also mentions the durations for celestial beings' consorts (devis).

3. Sub-Human Beings (Tiryag - तिर्यक्):

   • General Tiryag: The duration is described in terms of pudgala paravartas (पुद्गलपरावर्त - cycles of matter), specifically anantya pudgala paravartas (अनंतपुद्गलपरावर्त - infinite cycles of matter) for the general category, and asha-tritiya pudgala paravartas (अर्ध तृतीय पुद्गलपरावर्त - two and a half cycles of matter) for nigoda (निगोद - a specific state of one-sensed beings).
   • One-Sensed Beings (Ekendriya - एकेन्द्रिय): Durations are given in terms of parts of an Angula (अंगुल - finger-width) of space and immense cycles of time (utsarpinis and avasarpinis).
   • Two-Sensed to Five-Sensed Beings (Vikaledriya - विकलेन्द्रिय and Panchindriya - पञ्चेन्द्रिय): Durations are calculated in years, months, days, and parts of Palyopama and Sagaropama.
   • Specific Categories: The text analyzes durations for various types of Ekendriya (e.g., badara - gross, sukshma - subtle, paryapta - with developed faculties), Tiryag (e.g., pachindriya - five-sensed, tri-pachindriya - three to five-sensed), and Vedic (e.g., purusha veda - male disposition, stri veda - female disposition, napumsaka veda - neuter disposition).
   • States of Development: The text distinguishes between paryapta (developed) and aparyapta (undeveloped) beings, and the impact this has on their Kaysthiti.

4. Other Categories:

   • Knowledge Types (Jnana - ज्ञान): Durations for matijnana (मतिज्ञान), shruta jnana (श्रुतज्ञान), avadhi jnana (अवधिज्ञान), manah-paryaya jnana (मनःपर्यवज्ञान), and kevala jnana (केवलज्ञान).
   • Conduct Types (Samyama - संयम): Durations for various stages of conduct, including restraint (samyama), partial restraint (desha samyama), etc.
   • Perception Types (Darshana - दर्शन): Durations for chakshu darshana (चक्षु दर्शन), achakshu darshana (अचक्षु दर्शन), and kevala darshana (केवल दर्शन).
   • Dispositions (Leshya - लेश्या): Durations associated with different mental dispositions (Krishna, Nil, Kapot, Tejas, Padma, Shukla).
   • States of Being (Bhava - भाव): Durations for mithyatva (मिथ्यात्व - false belief), samyaktva (सम्यक्त्व - right belief), and mixed states.
   • Consciousness States (Yoga - योग): Durations for different types of psychical activities (mano yoga, vachana yoga, kaya yoga).
   • Karmic Influences (Kashaya - कषाय): Durations related to passions like anger, ego, delusion, and greed.
   • Stages of Spiritual Progress: The text also touches upon durations related to stages of spiritual development.

Methodology:

• The text employs a rigorous, quantitative approach, using specific units of time and space within the Jain cosmological framework (e.g., Sagaropama, Palyopama, Angula, Pudgala Paravarta).
• It often involves complex calculations, sometimes breaking down durations into fractions of these units, and considering different "layers" or "sections" (prastata) within specific realms.
• The commentary clarifies the verse and the context, often reconciling different scriptural interpretations.

Significance:

The "Kaysthiti Prakaranam" is a crucial text for understanding the lifespan of souls in different states of existence according to Jainism. This knowledge is fundamental for comprehending the cycle of birth and death (samsara) and for motivating spiritual practice aimed at liberation. The meticulous calculations highlight the Jain emphasis on detailed analysis of karmic consequences and the temporal aspects of existence.