Prakirnak Sahitya Manan Aur Mimansa

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Prakirnak Sahitya Manan aur Mimansa," based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Prakirnak Sahitya Manan aur Mimansa (Consideration and Analysis of Prakirnaka Literature) Editors: Prof. Sagarmal Jain, Dr. Suresh Sisodiya Publisher: Agama Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Samsthana, Udaipur First Edition: 1995 Price: Rs. 100.00

Overview:

This book is a compilation of scholarly articles presented at a two-day seminar organized by the Agama Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Samsthana, Udaipur, on April 2nd and 3rd, 1995. The seminar, titled "Prakirnaka Sahitya: Adhyayan aur Sameeksha" (Prakirnaka Literature: Study and Review), aimed to highlight the importance and value of Prakirnaka literature, which has often been neglected in comparison to other Jain canonical texts.

Key Themes and Content:

1. The Significance of Prakirnaka Literature:

   • The editors and contributors emphasize that Prakirnaka literature, a part of the Ardhamagadhi Jain Agam literature, is an invaluable treasure of Indian culture and literature.
   • It covers a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, religion, spiritual practices, astronomy, geography, astrology, and history, offering a comprehensive introduction to Jain society and culture.
   • Despite its richness, this literature and its study have been largely overlooked. Early recognition of its importance came from foreign Indologists like Walther Schubring.
   • While some Prakirnaka texts have been published, there's a lack of comprehensive translations and efforts to popularize their value.
   • The seminar and the resulting publication aim to address this gap by presenting these texts with detailed introductions and Hindi translations.

2. Prakirnaka Literature in Jain Canonical Classification:

   • Prof. Sagarmal Jain's introductory article, "Aagam Sahitya mein Prakirnakaon ka Sthan, Mahatva, Rachnakal evam Rachayita" (The Place, Importance, Composition Period, and Authors of Prakirnakas in Agam Literature), provides a foundational understanding.
   • Jain Agamas are traditionally classified into Anga, Upanga, Cheda, Mula, Chulika, and Prakirnaka.
   • The term "Prakirnaka" as a distinct category is considered a later development, first appearing in the Vidhimargapapa by Acharya Jinaprabha (13th century CE).
   • Historically, many texts that are now classified as Prakirnakas were initially included under Kalika and Utkalika Agamas, as mentioned in the Nandisutra and Paksikasutra.
   • The number of Prakirnakas is not definitively fixed, with different scholars and traditions listing varying numbers (e.g., 10 commonly accepted, Muni Punyavijaya listing 22, and his Pannayasutta containing 32). This reflects a lack of consensus among Shvetambara scholars.
   • The Digambara tradition generally considers all texts outside the Angas as Prakirnakas, following the tradition of Tattvartha-bhashya.

3. Importance and Content of Prakirnakas:

   • The book highlights the significant contribution of Prakirnakas to various fields of Jainology:
     • Astronomy and Geography: Devendrastava and Dvip-sagar-prajnapti discuss Jain cosmology and geography. Jyotishkarandak and Ganividya relate to Jain astrology. Tithogali deals with Jain chronological systems.
     • History: Tithogali is particularly noted for its portrayal of ancient Jain history.
     • Biology: Tandulavaicarika offers a concise introduction to Jain biology.
     • Physiognomy: Angavidya describes human anatomy and its auspicious/inauspicious signs.
     • Sociology/Organizational Structure: Gacchachara depicts the Jain monastic order.
     • Ethics and Conduct: Chandravedhyaka provides instructions on guru-disciple relationships and etiquette. Virastava offers etymological explanations of Mahavira's epithets. Chatuhsarana explains the significance of the four refuges in Jain practice.
     • Spiritual Practices (Samadhi-marana): A significant portion of the Prakirnakas focus on the practice of Samadhi-marana (peaceful death), including texts like Mahapratyakhyana, Aturapratyakhyana, Samstara, Bhaktaparigraha, Maranavibhuti, etc. These texts detail preparations and methods for a conscious and controlled departure from life.

4. Authorship and Chronology:

   • The dating of Prakirnakas is complex, with some dating back to before the common era (e.g., Rishibhasita potentially to the 5th century BCE).
   • Many Prakirnakas were composed over a long period, spanning roughly 1500 years, from the 4th century BCE to the 10th century CE.
   • Authorship is often obscure, with only a few ancient Prakirnakas like Devendrastava (attributed to Rishipalita, 1st century BCE) and Jyotishkarandaka (attributed to Padaliptacharya, 1st century CE) explicitly mentioning their composers. Later composers like Acharya Virabhadra (10th-11th century CE) are also mentioned.
   • The inclusion of sayings from sages from various traditions (Jain, Buddhist, Brahmanical) in texts like Rishibhasita and Isibhasiyaim suggests an early period of intellectual exchange and a broad acceptance of wisdom from different sources.

5. The Seminar and its Outcome:

   • The seminar brought together prominent Jain scholars and researchers to discuss and analyze Prakirnaka literature.
   • The publication of these articles in "Prakirnak Sahitya Manan aur Mimansa" serves as a valuable resource for scholars and students interested in this important, yet often overlooked, branch of Jain literature.
   • The financial support for the publication was generously provided by Shri Dhanrajji Banthia of Calcutta, in memory of whom the book is dedicated.

Individual Article Highlights (as indicated by the Table of Contents and previews):

• Prof. Sagarmal Jain: Discusses the position, importance, composition period, and authors of Prakirnakas in Agam literature, establishing their ancient roots and diverse thematic contributions.
• Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh: Analyzes the content of Prakirnakas related to Samadhi-marana (peaceful death), detailing various practices and classifications. He also analyzes non-Samadhi-marana related Prakirnakas covering astronomy, geography, history, etc.
• Joharimal Parakh: Provides information on the manuscripts and published editions of Prakirnakas, highlighting the challenges in their identification and cataloging due to sectarian differences and textual variations.
• Prof. K.R. Chandra: Focuses on the text-critical aspect, analyzing the variations in the texts of some Prakirnaka verses compared to other ancient works like Mulasara.
• Dr. Premsuman Jain: Examines the narrative characteristics of Prakirnaka literature, pointing out the use of stories and anecdotes to convey religious and philosophical ideas.
• Dr. Dharmachand Jain: Explores the concept of Samadhi-marana as presented in Prakirnaka literature, detailing its types, preparation, and philosophical underpinnings.
• Dr. Shriprakash Pandey: Discusses the relationship between Prakirnakas and Shauraseni Agam literature, analyzing linguistic influences and shared verses. He also analyzes Rishibhasita and Pravachanasarodhara in relation to Shauraseni.
• Dr. Suresh Sisodiya: Provides a critical study of Gacchachara, an important Prakirnaka text dealing with monastic conduct and organizational aspects.
• Dr. Hukamchand Jain: Analyzes Chandravedhyaka, highlighting its emphasis on the virtue of vinaya (humility and respectful conduct) and its importance in spiritual progress.
• Dr. Subhash Kothari: Discusses Ganividya and its place within other ancient Jain and astrological texts, explaining its use in determining auspicious times for religious activities.
• Dr. Ranjan Kumar: Compares the Tandulavaicarika Prakirnaka with modern biology, focusing on its descriptions of embryology and reproductive processes.
• Pandit Kannhayalal Dak: Examines Tithogali Prakirnaka and its contribution to understanding ancient Jain history, including accounts of the eras, Tirthankaras, and historical figures.
• Prof. Walther Schubring & Prof. C.S. Upasak: Their contributions (likely translated or summarized) discuss the Isibhasiyaim, its unique nature as a collection of sayings from various sages, its potential Buddhist influences, and its antiquity.
• Lalit Kumar: Presents an art-historical approach to dating the Devendrastava, linking its descriptions to early Indian art motifs like the Sarnath lion capital.

Conclusion:

"Prakirnak Sahitya Manan aur Mimansa" is a scholarly endeavor to bring the rich and diverse Prakirnaka literature of Jainism to a wider audience. It aims to illuminate the historical, philosophical, and practical dimensions of these texts, thereby fostering greater appreciation and research in this vital area of Jain studies. The book is a testament to the dedication of the editors and contributors in preserving and promoting this ancient wisdom.