Navtattva Chopai - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Navtattva Chopai" by Diptipragnashreeji, based on the provided text:

Book Title: Navtattva Chopai Author: Diptipragnashreeji Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/229650/1

This document presents an analysis and transcription of the "Navtattva Chopai," a Gujarati composition by Pandit Devchand, who was a disciple of Vachak Bhanuchandra. The work focuses on the fundamental principles of Jain philosophy, known as the Navatattva (Nine Realities).

Core of the Work:

The "Navtattva Prakaran" is a foundational Jain text, with 60 verses in Prakrit, that explains the nature of the universe through the nine tattvas: Jiva (Soul), Ajiva (Non-soul), Punya (Merit), Papa (Demerit), Asrava (Influx of Karma), Samvara (Stoppage of Karma), Nirjara (Shedding of Karma), Bandha (Bondage of Karma), and Moksha (Liberation). This Gujarati "Navtattva Chopai" is a devotional and explanatory elaboration on these principles.

Authorship and Lineage:

The author of the "Navtattva Chopai" is identified as Devchand, a disciple of Vachak Bhanuchandra.
Devchand's guru lineage is traced back through: Shri Vijaydevsurisishya Vijay Sinh Suri, Upadhyay Sakalchandra, Pandit Surachandra, and Vachak Bhanuchandra.
A significant detail mentioned is that Vachak Bhanuchandra was the guru who advised Emperor Akbar to withdraw the tax on the holy site of Shatrunjaya. This historical reference is cited in the text to establish Devchand's prominent spiritual heritage.

Manuscript Details and Variations:

The analysis is based on two initial manuscript copies (designated 'Ka' and 'Kha') of the "Navtattva Chopai" provided by A. Vijay Shīlachandra Suriji. Later, two more manuscript copies were found, and these variations and readings are noted.

Manuscript 'Ka': Written by Rishi Premji for Rishi Odhavji in Porbandar, Saurashtra, in Samvat 1766 (Vikram era). It includes a note stating it was done by Rishi Premji for the book repository.
Manuscript 'Kha': Written in Radhanpur in Samvat 1816. It has inscriptions related to Jirngadh and Girnar.
Linguistic Differences: Manuscript 'Ka' shows more usage of vowels 'O' and 'U' in place of 'A' and 'E', and certain suffix sounds. Manuscript 'Kha' uses 'E' sounds more broadly.
Content Variations: The document notes that some verses, particularly in the Samvara, Nirjara, and Bandha tattvas, differ between manuscripts 'Ka' and 'Kha', with the differing verses from 'Kha' being noted in the commentary.

Structure and Content of the "Navtattva Chopai":

The work is structured by elaborating on each of the nine tattvas, with the approximate number of verses dedicated to each:

Jiva Tattva (Soul): 16 verses. Describes the ten life-forces (pranas), the classification of souls based on senses (ekendri, beindri, etc.), and the characteristics of life.
Ajiva Tattva (Non-soul): 20 verses. Explains the five categories of Ajiva: Dharmastikaya (medium of motion), Adharmastikaya (medium of rest), Akashastikaya (space), Kalastikaya (time), and Pudgalastikaya (matter), detailing their sub-divisions.
Punya Tattva (Merit): 42 verses. Explains merits like pleasant sensations (vedaniya), high lineage, and favorable rebirths, along with detailed descriptions of various karmic dispositions and their results.
Papa Tattva (Demerit): 82 verses. This is the most extensive section, detailing various sins, vices, obstructive karmas (like ignorance, deludedness, etc.), karmas related to the senses, sleep, low birth, deluded belief, and karmas that result in unfavorable physical and mental states. It also covers anger, pride, delusion, greed, and other passions.
Asrava Tattva (Influx of Karma): 42 verses. Discusses the influx of karma through the senses, mind, speech, body, passions, vows, and activities (kriyas). It details various types of karmic influxes, including those from bodily actions, speech, passions, and attachment.
Samvara Tattva (Stoppage of Karma): 57 verses. Explains the means of stopping karma, including the five types of self-restraint (samitis), three types of control (guptis), twenty-two hardships (parishahas) to be endured, ten virtues of monks (yati dharma), twelve contemplations (bhavanas), and five types of conduct (charitras).
Nirjara Tattva (Shedding of Karma): 12 verses. Describes the process of shedding karma through external and internal austerities (tapas). External austerities include fasting, reduced eating, etc., while internal austerities involve penance, veneration, service, study, meditation, and contemplation.
Bandha Tattva (Bondage of Karma): 17 verses. Explains the four types of karma bondage: prakruti (nature), sthiti (duration), rasa (intensity/taste), and pradesha (quantity). It uses analogies like medicinal pills and milk mixed with water to illustrate how karma binds to the soul.
Moksha Tattva (Liberation): 35 verses. Describes the state of liberation, where the soul is freed from all karmas and resides in the liberated realm. It discusses who attains moksha, the conditions required, and the nine means of understanding liberation (margaṇā dvāra).

Key Themes and Purpose:

The "Navtattva Chopai" serves as an accessible and devotional explanation of core Jain philosophical concepts. It aims to:

Educate: Provide a foundational understanding of the nine realities that govern existence according to Jainism.
Inspire Devotion: Encourage the reader to reflect on these principles and cultivate devotion to the Jain path.
Guide Practice: Offer insights into the practices that lead to the stoppage and shedding of karma, ultimately leading to liberation.
Preserve Tradition: Elaborate on a significant Jain treatise, making its teachings more understandable to a wider audience.

Overall, the "Navtattva Chopai" is a significant contribution to Jain literature, making the complex philosophical tenets of the Navatattva accessible through devotional verses and detailed explanations, rooted in a rich tradition of Jain scholarship.