Prakarantrai - Book Summary | JainGPT

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Prakarantrai," based on the provided catalog link and the text content:

Book Title: Prakarantrai (प्रकरणत्रयी) Author: Mahabodhivijay (मुनि महाबोधिविजयः) Publisher: Jinshasan Aradhana Trust (श्री जिनशासन आराधना ट्रस्ट) Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/004427/1

Overview:

Prakarantrai, meaning "Collection of Three Treatises," is a significant Jain text published by the Jinshasan Aradhana Trust. This particular edition is a commentary-inclusive collection of three renowned Jain works:

Jeev Vichar (जीवविचार): A treatise on the nature of souls.
Navatattva (नवतत्व): A detailed explanation of the nine fundamental Jain principles (tattvas).
Dandak (दण्डक): A treatise outlining classifications and categories, likely related to the nine tattvas or broader Jain cosmology.

The publication aims to provide these essential Jain texts with valuable commentaries, enhancing the understanding for practitioners and scholars of Prakrit and Sanskrit.

Key Features and Content:

Editorial and Scholarly Endeavor: The text is meticulously compiled and edited by Muni Mahabodhivijay, a disciple of Acharya Shrimad Vijay Hemchandrasurishwarji. He has sourced and collated various printed and manuscript commentaries from different repositories to produce this comprehensive edition.
Purpose of the Publication: The primary objective is to enrich the linguistic knowledge of scholars of Prakrit and Sanskrit and to provide in-depth understanding of the subject matter. The publication is particularly noted as being useful for those studying the original Prakrit and Sanskrit texts.
Spiritual Lineage and Support: The publication is presented with the blessings and inspiration of prominent Jain Acharyas: Acharya Shrimad Vijay Prem Surishwarji Maharaj and Acharya Shrimad Vijay Bhuvan Bhanu Surishwarji Maharaj. The Jinshasan Aradhana Trust is actively involved in promoting scriptural devotion through such publications.
Historical and Literary Context:
- Jeev Vichar: The work is based on a composition by Acharya Shri Shantishuriji, originally written in 51 Arya meters in Maharashtra. It details the 563 classifications of souls. The commentary included is by Kshamakalyan Gani, a disciple of Amrutdharm Vachak of the Kharatar Gachchha, composed in 1850 (V.S.).
- Navatattva: This treatise, written in Arya meters, explains the various classifications of the nine tattvas (soul, non-soul, merit, demerit, influx, stoppage, extinction, bondage, liberation). The original author is unknown. The commentary is by Upadhyaya Shri Samaysundar Maharaj, who expounds on 49 verses of the original text. The original verses are estimated to be from before the 13th century, with possible contributions or compilations by Shri Dharamsuri Maharaj and potentially Acharya Hemchandracharya Maharaj himself.
- Dandak: Also known as Vichara Trishikha or Laghu Sangrahani, this treatise was composed by Gajasar Muni, a disciple of Dhavalchandra. It presents 24 danda-kās (categories or classifications) within 24 "dwaras" (sections or topics). The commentary is again by Upadhyaya Shri Samaysundar Maharaj, composed in 1696 (V.S.). The original text varies in verse count across different commentaries.
Commentary by Upadhyaya Shri Samaysundar: The publication specifically highlights the contributions of Upadhyaya Shri Samaysundar Maharaj, a prolific scholar and poet from the 17th century. He was a disciple of Salachandra Gani and taught various disciplines. His works span Sanskrit, Gujarati, and Hindi, covering a wide range of religious and literary topics. The text includes a poem by him encouraging students to study.
Appendices (Parishisht): The book includes several appendices that list:
- Parishisht-1: A list of works by various "Shanti Acharyas."
- Parishisht-2: A catalog of commentaries and elementary guides on "Jeev Vichar."
- Parishisht-3: A list of Sanskrit/Prakrit and Gujarati/Hindi literature related to "Navatattva."
- Parishisht-4: A comprehensive list of works by Mahopadhyaya Shri Samaysundar.
- Parishisht-5: A catalog of commentaries and elementary guides on the "Dandak Prakaran."
Corrections (Shuddhi Patrak): A section for errata is included, indicating the meticulous nature of the publication.
List of Published Works: The publication also features a list of other books published by the Jinshasan Aradhana Trust, showcasing their dedication to disseminating Jain scriptures.

Content Summary of the Three Treatises (as detailed in the commentaries):

Jeev Vichar (Soul Treatise):
- Discusses the two main categories of souls: liberated (mukta) and embodied (sansari).
- Embodied souls are further divided into mobile (trasa) and stationary (sthāvara).
- Stationary souls are classified into the five types of elemental beings: Earth-bodied (prithivi-kaya), Water-bodied (ap-kaya), Fire-bodied (tejas-kaya), Air-bodied (vayu-kaya), and Vegetation-bodied (vanaspati-kaya).
- Details the various sub-types and characteristics of each elemental category, including their body-size, lifespan, senses, and birth-types (sammūrcchima and garbhaja).
- Explains the classification of mobile souls into two-sensed (dvi-indriya), three-sensed (tri-indriya), four-sensed (chatur-indriya), and five-sensed (panch-indriya) beings.
- Describes the characteristics and types of hell-dwellers (narakas), demigods (vyantaras), celestial beings (jyotishkas), and fully embodied celestial beings (vaimanikas).
- Outlines the existence of liberated souls (siddhas) and their classifications.
- Explains the five vital substances (prāṇa) that animate beings and the concept of death (maraṇa) as the separation from these vitalities.
- Details the concept of "yoni" (wombs or birth-types) for various beings, totaling 8.4 million.
- Discusses the body-size and lifespan of different categories of beings.
Navatattva (Nine Principles):
- Defines the nine tattvas: Soul (Jiva), Non-Soul (Ajiva), Merit (Punya), Demerit (Papa), Influx (Ashrava), Stoppage (Samvara), Extinction (Nirjara), Bondage (Bandha), and Liberation (Moksha).
- Explains the specific number of sub-classifications for each tattva.
- Provides the unique characteristics and nature of each tattva, including the five types of non-soul substances (dharmāstikāya, adharmāstikāya, ākāśāstikāya, kāla, pudgalāstikāya).
- Details the karmic bonds (nature, duration, intensity, and quantity of karmic particles) and their relation to the soul's bondage and liberation.
- Explains the path to liberation through the practice of Samvara (stoppage of karma) and Nirjara (shedding of karma) through austerities (tapas) and pure conduct (charitra).
Dandak (Classifications):
- Presents a detailed analysis of 24 categories (Dandakas) and the various characteristics applicable to each, such as body-types, lifespan, senses, karmic conditions, birth-types, and spiritual states.
- The commentary by Samaysundar Maharaj is particularly praised for making these complex classifications understandable.
- The text delves into the minute details of each category, including their respective body-forms, the types of bodies they possess (audārika, vaikriya, etc.), the number of souls that can originate or perish simultaneously, their lifespan, the types of consciousness they possess, their modes of origination and cessation, and their life-sustaining faculties (paryāpti).

Overall Significance:

Prakarantrai, with its inclusion of these three foundational texts and their extensive commentaries, serves as a valuable resource for understanding core Jain philosophy, cosmology, and the path to spiritual liberation. The meticulous editorial work and the depth of the commentaries contribute to its importance in Jain literature. The emphasis on the works of Upadhyaya Shri Samaysundar highlights his significant role in making complex Jain principles accessible.