Samavayangasuttam

The provided text is the beginning of the English translation and scholarly edition of the Samavāyānga Sūtra, a canonical text of Jainism. Here's a comprehensive summary based on the initial pages:

Book Title: Samavāyānga Sūtra: A Jaina Canonical Text Author/Editor: Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh Publisher: Bhogilal Leherchand Institute of Indology, Delhi Publication Year: 2012 (First Edition) Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/006941/1

Core Summary:

The Samavāyānga Sūtra is the fourth of the twelve most authentic and earliest canonical texts (Angas) of Jainism, composed in Ardhamāgadhi Prakrit and usually dated between the 5th and 4th centuries BCE.

Meaning of the Title:

• Samavāya translates to "a group," "an aggregate," or "a cluster" of items, subjects, or concepts that are linked by certain common characteristics.
• The text is named so because it follows a pattern of enumerating subjects and themes related to Jain doctrine in a grouped format, primarily following numerical order in an ascending manner. It starts with numbers beginning from one and progresses up to one hundred in a regular sequence, and then beyond at a faster pace, up to one crore.

Content and Significance:

• The text systematically presents Jain philosophical and doctrinal subjects in these numerical clusters.
• It unfolds the characteristics of these subjects, revealing important psychological and ontological aspects of Jainism.
• The Samavāyānga Sūtra also sheds light on Jain cosmological beliefs.
• It is considered an invaluable source for understanding various facets of Jain philosophy and the Jain belief system.
• The English translation by Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh is noted as the "first ever English translation" of the text, enriched with critical and supplementary notes, aiming to reach a wider readership, including researchers and scholars.

Structure and Key Features (as described in the introduction and about the book):

• Canonical Text: It is one of the twelve core Angas of the Svetambara Jain canon.
• Numerical Order: The primary organizing principle is the grouping of subjects based on numerical progression, starting from one and going up to very large numbers like one crore.
• Encyclopedic Nature: The text has an encyclopedic character, similar to the Sthānānga Sūtra (the third Anga), and they are seen as complementary to each other.
• Content Diversity: Beyond numerical groupings, the text includes:
  • A detailed table of contents and extent of all twelve Angas.
  • Various statements that deal with doctrine, hagiology, and what might be termed history or legend.
  • Specific details about the twelve Anga texts, including the subject matter of the twelfth Anga, Drstivāda.
• Authorship: The text is attributed to Pañcama-gaṇahara-bhagavamsiri-suhamma-sāmi-viraiya, indicating its origin from Sudharmaswami, the fifth Ganadhara of Lord Mahavira.
• Translation & Editing: Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh's work includes the original text, an English translation, variant readings, critical notes, and appendices (Gāthā Index, Classified Index of Proper Names, Glossary of Technical Terms, Bibliography, and Word Index), making it a comprehensive scholarly edition.
• Abridgement in Canons: The text discusses the historical practice of abridging canonical texts, possibly initiated by Devarddhigani Kṣamāśramaņa, to safeguard scriptures while retaining their meaning.

Dating:

• The Samavāya Sūtra is usually dated to the 5th to 4th centuries BCE.
• The Ardhamāgadhī literature, including the canons, is considered the earliest extant Prakrit literature, with the first part of Ācārānga preceding it and dating back to approximately the 5th-4th century BCE.

Publisher's Note:

• The Bhogilal Leherchand Institute of Indology published this translation in its Silver Jubilee Year (2009, although the publication date is 2012).
• It acknowledges the contributions of scholars like Prof. S. R. Banerjee and Prof. Piotr Balcerowicz, Poland.
• The institute's founding is linked to the teachings of Acharya Vijay Vallabh Surishwarji Maharaj and the vision of Sadhvisri Mrigavatiji, aiming to promote research in Indology, especially Jainology.

In essence, the Samavāyānga Sūtra is a foundational Jain text that systematically organizes and presents the vast corpus of Jain knowledge through a unique numerical classification, covering philosophy, cosmology, and the lives of great personalities. Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh's edition provides a valuable resource for understanding this crucial scripture in English.