Pt Todarmalji Aur Gommatasara

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Pt Todarmalji aur Gommatasara," by Narendra Bhisikar, focusing on Pandit Todarmalji's contribution and the essence of the Gommatasara text:

This document is a detailed essay exploring the significance of the Jain scripture Gommatasara and the crucial role played by Pandit Todarmalji in making its profound teachings accessible. The author, Narendra Bhisikar, highlights Pandit Todarmalji's commentary as a vital bridge for those with limited Sanskrit knowledge and difficulty grasping the intricate mathematical principles within Gommatasara.

1. The Significance of Gommatasara:

• Essence of Karananuyoga: Gommatasara, also known as Panchasangraha, is described as the distilled essence of the Dhavala and Shatkhandagama scriptures, particularly within the Karananuyoga (the canon of conduct and action).
• Core Purpose: The primary aim of Gommatasara is to guide individuals towards moksha (liberation) by expounding the true nature of the soul (Jiva) and its relationship with karma. It emphasizes that true happiness lies in moksha, which is the soul's inherent state, in contrast to the transient and suffering-filled worldly existence.
• Path to Moksha: The text asserts that liberation is achieved through the unity and completeness of Samyagdarshana (right faith), Samyagjnana (right knowledge), and Samyakcharitra (right conduct). These are attained by correctly understanding and having faith in the seven fundamental Jain tattvas (principles) like Jiva.
• Importance of Agamajnana: In the current era (Pancham Kal) without omniscient beings, knowledge derived from scriptures (Agamajnana) is considered the primary means to attain Samyagdarshana.

2. Pandit Todarmalji's Contribution:

• The Commentary "Samyagjnana-Chandrika": Pandit Todarmalji created a word-for-word Hindi translation of the first Sanskrit commentary on Gommatasara, titled Jivatattwapradipika by Pandit Keshavi. He named his Hindi translation Samyagjnana-Chandrika.
• Making Complex Concepts Accessible: The essay specifically focuses on the introductory section (Peethika) written by Pandit Todarmalji. His paramount contribution was simplifying the complex mathematical and scientific principles within Gommatasara through "ankasandrishti" (numerical perspective) for those with "mandabuddhi" (lesser intellect) and limited Sanskrit knowledge. This was a monumental service to the spiritual seekers.
• Encouraging Study: Pandit Todarmalji's primary motivation for writing the commentary was to inspire earnest seekers (mumukshu bhavya jiva) to study Gommatasara in depth.

3. Addressing Objections from Different Perspectives (Anuyogas):

The essay presents dialogues where Pandit Todarmalji, through the voice of a disciple, addresses potential questions from followers of different Jain anuyogas (categories of scripture):

• From Prathamanuyoga (Narrative/Historical): A disciple asks about the purpose of a complex text like Gommatasara for the less intelligent, given that stories and narratives in Prathamanuyoga already turn people away from sin.
  • Todarmalji's Response: While narratives can inspire some, detailed knowledge of the cause-and-effect of punya (merit) and papa (demerit) from Gommatasara provides a firmer foundation for renouncing sin and embracing dharma, leading to greater conviction.
• From Charananuyoga (Conduct/Discipline): A disciple questions how merely knowing the nature of Jiva and karma leads to liberation, emphasizing the need for vows, penances, and disciplined conduct.
  • Todarmalji's Response: Virtuous actions like vows are essential but are like a dot without a circle (meaningless) without Samyagdarshana. True faith is impossible without understanding the nature of tattvas, hence the necessity of studying Gommatasara. Moreover, knowledge-based actions (like renouncing violence with understanding) are superior and lead to true samvara (cessation of influx of karma) and nirjara (shedding of karma).
• From Dravyanuyoga (Metaphysics/Substance): A disciple argues that understanding the true nature of the self and distinguishing between self and non-self is sufficient, questioning the need for analyzing karma and subtle distinctions.
  • Todarmalji's Response: While self-realization is the ultimate goal, for those whose consciousness is not constantly stable in their pure self, understanding distinctions like gunasthanas (stages of spiritual development) and karma is beneficial. This detailed knowledge is more potent than general spiritual teachings. He also clarifies that Gommatasara's detailed analysis aligns with the Vyavahara Naya (conventional truth) which supports the Nishchaya Naya (ultimate truth) and is crucial for those not yet in a state of complete self-absorption.
• From Adhyatmanuyoga (Spirituality/Self-Enquiry): A disciple notes that Adhyatma emphasizes experiencing the pure self without distinctions, while Gommatasara describes the soul with distinctions like gunasthanas, suggesting a contradiction.
  • Todarmalji's Response: The apparent contradiction is resolved by understanding the two nayas. Nishchaya Naya describes the soul in its pure, undifferentiated state, while Vyavahara Naya describes it with its various attributes and stages. For those not yet established in self-experience, Vyavahara Naya is essential. He also points out that even Vedanta describes the soul as pure, and correctly distinguishing its true nature from others requires specific knowledge, which Gommatasara provides.
• Comparing with Adhyatma and Miracles: A disciple questions the utility of Karananuyoga compared to Adhyatma, citing instances where animals or individuals with minimal knowledge (like Shivbhuti Muni) achieved liberation.
  • Todarmalji's Response: While such exceptional cases exist due to past life impressions, they are not the general rule. The true path to liberation is through understanding the self through the detailed study of scriptures like Gommatasara. He emphasizes that sincere study of Gommatasara leads to reduced anger, control over senses, mental concentration, avoidance of sins, and discernment of what to accept and reject, ultimately leading to self-knowledge.

4. The Structure and Content of Gommatasara:

The essay then meticulously outlines the vast content of Gommatasara, divided into two main sections:

• Jiva Kanda (Soul Section): Contains 22 chapters, including detailed discussions on:

  • Gunasthana Adhikara: The 14 stages of spiritual development, the workings of pramada (carelessness), and the intricacies of karma analysis.
  • Jiva Samasa Adhikara: Elaborate descriptions of 14 jiva samasas (classifications of souls), 98 jiva samasa sthanas, 84 lakh types of life forms, and details on their physical dimensions (avagahana) and lineages.
  • Paryapti Adhikara: The concept of paryapti (developmental stages), including numerical and analogical estimations, dimensions of the universe, and the three types of angula (finger measurement).
  • Prana, Samjna, Margana: Descriptions of vital energies, instincts, and the various paths of spiritual inquiry (directions, senses, body types, passions, knowledge, restraint, perception, passions, etc.).
  • Specific Marganas: In-depth analyses of:
    • Gati Margana: The four realms of existence and their inhabitants.
    • Indriya Margana: The senses, both physical and subtle.
    • Kaya Margana: The types of bodies and life forms.
    • Yoga Margana: The manifestations of mind, speech, and body.
    • Veda Margana: The different states of desire and the concept of Brahmacharya.
    • Kashaya Margana: The four types of passions and their impact.
    • Jnana Margana: The five types of valid knowledge, types of error, and the seven-fold Syadvada doctrine.
    • Sanyam Margana: The levels of restraint.
    • Darshana Margana: The types of perception.
    • Leshya Margana: The six subtle shades of spiritual disposition and their causes.
    • Bhavya Margana: The distinction between those destined for liberation and those not.
    • Samyaktva Margana: The nature of right faith, the six substances, and the nine tattvas.
    • Sanjna Margana: The classifications of conscious beings.
    • Ahar Margana: The process of nourishment and the seven types of samudghata.
    • Upayoga Adhikara: The nature of conscious attention.
    • Oghadesha Yogaprarupana: The interplay of conduct and classifications.
    • Alapa Adhikara: The analysis of various spiritual concepts.

• Karma Kanda (Karma Section): Contains nine chapters detailing:

  • Prakriti Samutkirtana Adhikara: The relationship between Jiva and karma, the types of karma, and their bondage, manifestation, and existence.
  • Bandha-Uday-Sattva Adhikara: Detailed explanations of karma bondage (nature, duration, intensity, quantity), manifestation, and existence, including concepts like laghuna (reduction) and vardhana (increase).
  • Sattva Sthana Adhikara: The number of karmas present at any given time.
  • Trikshulika Adhikara: The first and second chulikasa (sub-sections), addressing nine specific questions about the sequence of bondage and manifestation, and the fivefold analysis of karma.
  • Dasakarana Chulika: The ten types of karmic processes (bondage, enhancement, transition, reduction, emission, existence, manifestation, suppression, fixed, and irrevocable).
  • Sthan Samutkirtana Adhikara: The states of bondage, manifestation, and existence and their permutations.
  • Pratyaya Adhikara: The root causes of karma influx (4 primary and 57 secondary).
  • Bhava Chulika: The five fundamental states of the soul (opashamika, kshayika, mishra, audayika, parinamika) and their impact on the 14 gunasthanas.
  • Karmasthiti Adhikara: The duration of karma and its associated periods of delay (abadha).

5. Pandit Todarmalji's Life and Legacy:

• Period and Location: Pandit Todarmalji lived approximately 200 years ago and resided in Jaipur.
• Inspiration: He was motivated by his spiritual companion, Pandit Rajmallji, to undertake the monumental task of writing the commentary.
• Tragic End: Despite being a respected royal scholar, his life was tragically cut short by anti-religious elements who, out of hatred for his faith, ensured his death by causing him to be trampled by an elephant. Pandit Todarmalji accepted this fate willingly to uphold the truth of the dharma.
• Irreparable Loss: His demise was a significant loss to the Jain community, the void of which is considered impossible to fill.

In essence, the essay celebrates Pandit Todarmalji not only as a profound scholar and commentator but also as a martyr who dedicated his life to making the complex spiritual science of Gommatasara accessible to all, thereby illuminating the path to liberation for countless seekers.