QuantumGitHub

Padarth Prakash Part 01 Jeev Vichar Navtattva

Added to library: September 2, 2025

Loading image...
First page of Padarth Prakash Part 01 Jeev Vichar Navtattva

Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Padarth Prakash Part 01 Jeev Vichar Navtattva," in English:

This book, "Padarth Prakash Part 01: Jeev Vichar Navtattva," authored by Ac. Hemchandrasuri and published by the Sanghvi Ambalal Ratanchand Jain Religious Trust, serves as an introduction to fundamental Jain principles, focusing on the nature of living beings (Jeev) and the Nine Elements (Navtattva). The text aims to provide a foundational understanding of Jain philosophy and practice, especially for those whose intellect has declined over time and who may not have access to original scriptures.

Part 1: Jeev Vichar (Discussion on Living Beings)

The first part delves into the classification and characteristics of living beings (Jeev).

  • Definition of Jeev: Jeev are defined as beings possessing life-spirit or "pran" (vitality). Prans are divided into two categories:

    • Dravya Pran (Vitality of Body): Encompassing the five senses (skin, tongue, nose, eyes, ears) and three powers (mental, vocal, physical).
    • Bhav Pran (Vitality of Soul): Including faith (Darshan), knowledge (Gnan), and conduct (Charitra).

  • Types of Living Beings:

    • Sansari: Beings bound by karma, circulating in the mundane world.
    • Siddh: Beings who have attained liberation.

  • Classification of Sansari Beings:

    • Tras (Mobile): Beings that can migrate willingly.
    • Sthavar (Immobile): Beings that cannot migrate willingly.

  • Divisions of Sthavar (Immobile Beings): These are further categorized into five types, each potentially divided into "Sukshma" (subtle, invisible) and "Badar" (gross, visible), and "Paryapta" (fully developed) and "Aparyapta" (not fully developed).

    1. Prithvikaay: Beings whose bodies are earth (e.g., stones, metals).
    2. Apkaay: Beings whose bodies are water (e.g., rain, dew, ice).
    3. Teukaay: Beings whose bodies are fire (e.g., burning coal, sparks).
    4. Vaukaay: Beings whose bodies are wind (e.g., air currents).
    5. Vanaspatikaay: Beings whose bodies are vegetation. These are further divided into:
      • Pratyek: One soul per body (e.g., trees, fruits).
      • Sadharan: Infinite souls in one body (e.g., onions, moss, fungus).

  • Paryaptis (Fulfillment of Capabilities): Six types of "Paryaptis" are essential for a living being's development:

    1. Ahaar-Paryapti (Intake and assimilation)
    2. Shareer-Paryapti (Body formation)
    3. Indriya-Paryapti (Sense organ development)
    4. Shvashochhvas-Paryapti (Respiration)
    5. Bhasha-Paryapti (Speech)
    6. Manah-Paryapti (Mind/Thought process)

  • Types of Bodies: Living beings possess five types of bodies:

    1. Audaarik: The natural physical body.
    2. Vaikriya: Transformable bodies (e.g., celestial beings, infernal beings).
    3. Aahaarak: Bodies used by ascetics to visualize or resolve doubts.
    4. Taijas: Fiery bodies essential for digestion.
    5. Karman: Bodies composed of karmic matter.

  • Classification of Tras (Mobile) Beings: These are divided into four categories based on the number of senses they possess:

    1. Beindriya: Two senses.
    2. Teindriya: Three senses.
    3. Chaurindriya: Four senses.
    4. Panchendriya: Five senses.

  • Panchendriya (Five-Sensed Beings): These are further classified into:

    • Naarki: Infernal beings (dwelling in hells).
    • Tiryanch: Animals/brute beings (further divided into aquatic, land-dwelling, and flying).
    • Manushya: Human beings (residing in specific regions of the universe).
    • Dev: Celestial beings (gods).

  • Cosmological Description: The text provides a brief overview of the Jain universe, including the division into three Lokas (Urdhvalok, Adholok, Tirchhalok) and details about Jambudweep, its mountains, regions (Karmabhumis and Akarmabhumis), and the concept of Antardweeps.

  • Detailed Breakdown of Deities (Dev): They are categorized into Bhavanpati, Vyantar, Jyotish, and Vaimanik, with further subdivisions for each.

  • Key Features of Living Beings: The text discusses body height, lifespan, and the number of "prans" and "paryaptis" for various types of beings. It also mentions the 84 lakh species (Yonis) from which beings are born.

  • Ethical Considerations: The text emphasizes the importance of protecting even the smallest living beings (Sammurchhim Manushyas) and provides guidelines for avoiding their unintentional harm.

Part 2: Navtattva (Nine Elements)

The second part introduces the Nine Elements, which are central to understanding the Jain path to liberation.

  • The Nine Elements:

    1. Jeev: The soul or living being.
    2. Ajeev: Non-living substances.
    3. Punya: Karmas that yield positive results.
    4. Paap: Karmas that yield negative results.
    5. Aashrav: The influx of karmas into the soul.
    6. Samvar: The stopping of karmic influx.
    7. Bandh: The bondage of karma to the soul.
    8. Nirjara: The shedding or expulsion of karma.
    9. Moksha: Liberation from all karmas.

  • Purpose of Understanding the Elements: The elements are categorized as:

    • Gney: To be known (Jeev, Ajeev).
    • Hey: To be abandoned (Paap, Aashrav, Bandh).
    • Upadey: To be accepted/practiced (Punya, Samvar, Nirjara, Moksha).

  • Detailed Description of Each Element:

    • Jeev: Explained as the essence of consciousness, capable of knowledge, perception, and experiencing joy and sorrow. Its pure state is infinite knowledge and bliss, while its mundane state is obscured by karma.
    • Ajeev: Encompasses the five categories of non-living substances: Dharmastikaay (medium of motion), Adharmastikaay (medium of rest), Akashastikaay (space), Kaalastikaay (time), and Pudgalastikaay (matter).
    • Punya and Paap: Detailed lists of causes and types of karmas that lead to meritorious (Punya) and sinful (Paap) consequences are provided, along with their specific classifications.
    • Aashrav: Explains the channels through which karmas enter the soul, including the five senses, four passions, five vows (or their absence), and various activities.
    • Samvar: Outlines the methods to prevent karmic influx, including the five Samitis (careful activities), three Guptis (self-restraints), endurance of 22 Parishahs (hardships), ten Yatidharmas (duties of saints), ten Bhavanas (contemplations), and five types of Charitra (asceticism).
    • Bandh: Describes the process of karmic bondage, including its four aspects: Prakriti (nature of karma), Sthiti (duration), Ras (intensity), and Pradesh (quantity). The eight main types of karmas and their duration are also detailed.
    • Nirjara: Explains the shedding of karma through twelve types of penances, categorized into six external (Bahya Tap) and six internal (Abhyantar Tap) practices.
    • Moksha: Defined as the ultimate state of liberation, where the soul is completely free from all karmas. It is described as an eternal state of pure consciousness and bliss, dwelling at the top of the universe (Siddhashila). The text discusses the nature of liberated souls and the marganas (creeds/categories) from which liberation is possible.

  • The Path to Liberation: The text emphasizes that understanding and having faith in these Nine Elements leads to "Samyaktva" (Right Faith), which is the first step towards liberation.

The book concludes with an apology for any unintentional errors and a dedication to the memory of "late gurudev acharyadev shreemadvijay Premsurishvarji," highlighting his virtues and contributions to Jainism. The text itself is presented as a distillation from vast scriptural knowledge, made accessible for broader understanding.