Panchsangraha Part 02 - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Panchsangraha Part 02," focusing on the "Bandhak-Prarupana Adhikar" (Chapter on the Description of the Bonders):

Title: Panchsangraha (Volume 2) Author: Shrimad Acharya Chandrarshi Mahattar Commentator: Late Marudhar Kesari Pravartak Shri Mishriml Ji Maharaj Compiler/Coordinator: Shri Sukhans Muni Ji Editor: Shri Devkumar Jain Shastri Publisher: Acharya Shri Raghunath Jain Shodh Sansthan, Jodhpur

Overall Context:

This book is the second part of the "Panchsangraha," a significant Jain text authored by Acharya Chandrarshi Mahattar, a scholar from the 11th century Vikram era. The "Panchsangraha" is a collection of five important works related to Jain philosophy, and this particular volume focuses on the "Bandhak-Prarupana Adhikar," the second chapter. The entire "Panchsangraha" comprises ten volumes. The commentary is by the revered scholar and preacher, Marudhar Kesari Shri Mishriml Ji Maharaj, and the editing is by Shri Devkumar Jain Shastri. The publication was initiated under the guidance of Shri Mishriml Ji Maharaj, who unfortunately passed away before its completion. The work was then completed and published under the guidance of his disciple, Shri Sukhans Muni Ji.

Core Theme of the "Bandhak-Prarupana Adhikar":

This chapter delves into the nature of beings (Jivas) who are "bandhak" – those who bind karmas. It explains what constitutes a "bonder" and outlines the detailed classifications and characteristics of such beings.

Key Concepts and Content:

The Nature of the Bonder:
- The chapter begins by establishing that the fourteen types of Jivas described in the previous chapter (Yoga-Upayogamargana) are the ones that bind karmas.
- It clarifies that while all living beings in the cycle of birth and death are, in a sense, "bandhak," the most significant "bandhak" are the beings that possess both Yoga (activity of mind, speech, and body) and Upayog (conscious activity).
- The text emphasizes that ultimately, it is the soul's attachment to passions (kashayas) that leads to the binding of karmas.
Q&A on the Nature of Jiva (Gathas 2-3):
- The chapter employs a question-and-answer format to explain fundamental Jain principles about the Jiva:
  - What is Jiva? A substance endowed with modes (bhavas) such as Aupashamik (suppressed), Audayik (manifested), Kshāyik (eradicated), Kshayopashamik (suppressed-manifested), and Parināmik (transformative).
  - Who is the master of Jiva? The Jiva is the master of its own true nature.
  - Who created the Jiva? The Jiva is uncreated (akritrim), like space, existing eternally.
  - Where does Jiva reside? Jiva resides in the body and within the universe (loka).
  - How long does Jiva exist? Jiva exists eternally.
  - How many modes does Jiva have? Jiva is associated with two, three, four, or five modes, referring to the various combinations of the five basic modes (Aupashamik, Audayik, Kshāyik, Kshayopashamik, Parināmik).
Possible Bodies of Embodied Souls (Gatha 4):
- The text details the types of bodies (sharira) that beings in the four destinies (gati) can possess:
  - Devas (Gods) and Naraka (Hell beings): Possess three types of bodies: Taijas (fiery), Karmana (karmic), and Vaikriy (transformative).
  - Vayukāyikas (Air element beings) and Pañcendriya Tiryanchas (Five-sensed animals): Possess four types of bodies: Taijas, Karmana, Vaikriy, and Audārik (gross physical).
  - Manushyas (Humans): Possess five types of bodies: Audārik, Taijas, Karmana, Vaikriy, and Āhārak (transferring matter).
  - Other beings (Ekendriyas, Dvīndriyas, etc.): Possess three bodies: Taijas, Karmana, and Audārik.
  - Siddhas (Liberated souls): Are bodiless (avigraha).
Existence of Different Jivas (Gatha 5):
- This section, "Satpad-Prarupana" (Description of Existence), discusses the presence and quantity of different Jiva categories.
- It states that the four types of Kāyānikas (Earth, Water, Fire, Air) and Ordinary (Sādhārana) Vegetative souls are eternal, meaning they are always present.
- Specific types of One-sensed beings (Ekendriyas) exist in two categories: subtle (sūkshma) and gross (bādara), and further divided into quiescent (shānta) and active (ghora), and perfect (paryāpta) and imperfect (aparyāpta).
- The remaining Jivas (from Dvīndriyas up to Pañcendriyas) exist in "uttar-vibhavas," meaning they are generated and may not be continuously present in the same form.
Existence of Different Stages of Spiritual Development (Gathas 6-8):
- Satpad-Prarupana of Gunasthanas (Stages of Spiritual Development):
  - Gathas 6-8 discuss the presence of the fourteen Gunasthanas.
  - Certain Gunasthanas are always present (e.g., Mithyādr̥ṣṭi, Avirata-samya-gdr̥ṣṭi, Deśavirati, Pramatta, Apramatta, Sāyogikēvalī), while others are occasional.
  - Gathas 7-8 introduce combinatorial formulas ( Karan-sutra) to calculate the number of possible combinations of these Gunasthanas, especially when considering one or many beings. These formulas are presented in a numerical progression.
Quantitative Enumeration (Gathas 9-24):
- This extensive section quantifies the number of souls in various categories.
- Dravya-Pramana (Quantity of Souls):
  - One-Sensed Beings (Ekendriyas): Ordinary vegetative souls (Sādhārana Vanaspati) are infinite. Other Ekendriyas (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and specific Vegetative) are also quantified using complex calculations involving "Angula-Pratar" (area related to finger-width) and "Shreni" (line of cells).
  - Jivas of the Four Destinies (Naraka, Tiryanch, Manushya, Deva): Their numbers are quantified using similar calculations based on cosmic measurements and "Shreni" concepts. The numbers vary significantly between different hellish realms, celestial realms, and types of beings.
  - Detailed Quantifications: The text provides precise numbers for various categories like Naraka Jivas in different hellish layers, Devas in various celestial realms (Bhavanapati, Vyantara, Jyotishka, Vaimānika), and humans. These numbers are often astronomical, expressed in terms of "asankhyeya" (innumerable) and "sankhyeya" (countable) divisions of cosmic measurements.
  - Gunasthanas: The number of souls in each of the fourteen Gunasthanas is also quantified.
Scope of Soul's Reach (Gatha 26):
- Kshetra-Prarupana (Scope of Reach): This section describes the spatial extent of souls.
- Subtle (sūkshma) Ekendriyas pervade the entire universe (lok).
- Gross (bādara) beings and beings in higher Gunasthanas generally occupy a fraction of the universe.
- Samudghāta (Expansion of Soul's Consciousness): The text explains the phenomenon of Samudghāta, where a soul can expand its consciousness beyond its physical body. It details the seven types of Samudghāta (Vedana, Kashaya, Maranantika, Vaikriya, Tejas, Āhārak, Kēvali) and which types are possible for beings in different destinies and Gunasthanas. For instance, Souls in Samudghāta can reach across the entire universe.
Touch/Contact (Gatha 29-33):
- Sparshana-Prarupana (Description of Touch): This explains how souls, in different states, can touch or encompass spatial regions.
- Souls undergoing Samudghāta can touch the entire universe.
- The text quantifies the extent of touch for beings in different Gunasthanas, often expressed in terms of "Raju" (a unit of cosmic length) and fractions thereof. For example, beings in certain Gunasthanas can touch parts of the universe measured in Rajas.
Time-Related Aspects (Gathas 34-47):
- Kāla-Prarupana (Description of Time): This section deals with the duration of existence in different states and Gunasthanas.
- Bhava-sthiti (Lifespan in a Specific Incarnation): It details the lifespan of various beings, from Ekendriyas to Devas, distinguishing between subtle and gross, perfect and imperfect, and different types within each category. Lifespans are expressed in years, months, days, and even "Sagaras" (vast units of time).
- Kāya-sthiti (Continuity of Existence in the Same Body Type): It describes how long a soul can repeatedly take birth in the same category of beings (e.g., repeatedly being an Ekendriya).
- Gunasthana-sthiti (Duration in Each Spiritual Stage): The text explains how long a soul typically remains in each of the fourteen Gunasthanas, distinguishing between the minimum (jaghanya) and maximum (utkr̥ṣṭa) durations.
- Pudgalapravartana (Cycles of Matter Interaction): The concept of Pudgalapravartana (cycles of interaction with matter) is introduced, with four types: Dravya (matter), Kshetra (space), Kala (time), and Bhava (mental states). These are further classified into gross and subtle. The text describes these as vast time cycles indicating the prolonged nature of transmigration.
Intervention/Interval (Gathas 57-61):
- Antara-Dvara (Description of Interval): This section discusses the interval or time gap between successive births in the same category or state.
- It specifies the minimum and maximum intervals for rebirths in different Gatis (destinies) and Gunasthanas, explaining the conditions under which these intervals occur.
Modes of Existence (Gatha 64):
- Bhava-Dvara (Description of Modes): This chapter analyzes the presence of the five fundamental Jain modes (Aupashamik, Audayik, Kshāyik, Kshayopashamik, Parināmik) in different Gunasthanas, detailing possible combinations of these modes.
Relative Quantity (Gathas 65-81):
- Alpabahutva (Description of Less-to-More Quantity): This crucial section compares the numbers of souls in various categories. It meticulously establishes the relative magnitudes of beings across different types (e.g., humans vs. celestial beings, hell beings vs. animals, gross vs. subtle, perfect vs. imperfect), often using terms like "sankhyeya-guna" (countably more), "asankhyeya-guna" (innumerably more), and "ananta-guna" (infinitely more).
Classification of Souls and Gunasthanas (Gathas 82-84):
- Jivasthana Bheda (Types of Souls): Gatha 82 lists the fourteen fundamental categories of souls (e.g., subtle-gross Ekendriyas, Sambhinnas, Sangyis, Asangyis, etc.).
- Gunasthana Nama (Names of Gunasthanas): Gatha 83 enumerates the names of the fourteen Gunasthanas.
- Concluding Remarks: Gatha 84 summarizes that beings in thirteen Gunasthanas (from Mithyādr̥ṣṭi to Sāyogikēvalī) bind eight types of karmas, and the text concludes by stating that the discussion of karmic bondage will be elaborated further.

Commentary and Significance:

The Hindi commentary by Shri Mishriml Ji Maharaj and the editing by Shri Devkumar Jain are praised for making this complex and vast text accessible in Hindi. The "Panchsangraha" is highlighted as a crucial, rare, and difficult-to-understand text that helps in understanding the intricacies of the Karma doctrine, a cornerstone of Jain philosophy. The publication of this commentary is seen as a significant contribution to Jain literature, making forgotten knowledge available to readers. The initial motivation for this work came from the editor's prior work on editing the "Karma Granthas," realizing the need for a similar accessible commentary on "Panchsangraha." The preface also pays tribute to the life and contributions of Shri Mishriml Ji Maharaj.

This summary provides a detailed overview of the "Bandhak-Prarupana Adhikar" of "Panchsangraha Part 02," covering its key philosophical concepts, classifications, enumerations, and the context of its commentary and publication.