Samvayang Sutra Ek Parichay

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Samvayang Sutra - An Introduction

This document provides an overview of the Samvayang Sutra, a significant text within the Jain Agamas. Authored by Shri Dharmchand Jain and published by Z_Jinavani_003218.pdf, it highlights the Sutra's importance as a compilation of facts and figures, presented in a systematic manner from one up to crores (koti). It is considered a complementary text to the Sthananga Sutra, and knowledge of both is deemed essential for aspiring Acharyas and Upadhyayas.

Core Nature and Content:

The Samvayang Sutra's primary function is to present a vast array of Jain teachings and facts through numerical enumeration. It covers diverse topics, including:

• Tirthankaras: Detailed information about various Tirthankaras like Mahavir, Parshvanath, Arishtanemi, Neminath, Munisuvrat, Mallinath, Aranath, Kunthunath, Shantinath, Vasupujya, Shreyansanath, Shitalnath, Sudhivinath, Suparshvanath, and Rishabhdev. This includes their avagahana (stature), gana (followers), ganadharas (chief disciples), avadnyani (clairvoyants), and manaparyavajnyani (telepaths).
• Worldly Entities: Information about Chakravartis, Vasudevas, Baldevas, Vimanas (celestial abodes), and mountains.
• Dwadashanga Ganipitaka: An introduction to the twelve Angas of the Jain canon.
• Cosmology and Beings: Details about Devs (celestial beings) and Naraka (hell beings), along with their residences.
• Karmasiddhi (Karma Theory): Information on the principles of karma, including the numbers and names of various karma-prakritis (karma-types) and their causal factors.
• Dharma and Charitra (Religion and Conduct): Insights into the ten types of dharma, self-restraint (samyama), overcoming afflictions (parishahajaya), celibacy (brahmacharya), and other aspects of Jain conduct.
• Fundamental Jain Principles: Information on soul (jiva), non-soul (ajiva), sustenance (ahara), respiration (shvasochchvas), the cosmic time cycle (kalachakra), astrology (jyotish), knowledge (gyan), the universe (loka), merit and demerit (punya-papa), influx of karma (asrava), cessation of karma (samvara), shedding of karma (nirjara), liberation (moksha), passions (kashaya), sublimation (samudghat), and places of pride (madsthan).

Structure and Style:

The Samvayang Sutra is organized into Samvayas, which are essentially chapters or sections, each focusing on a specific numerical theme. The text systematically progresses from one to one hundred, and then to higher numbers, covering a vast range of subjects through this numerical framework. This "collection style" is ancient and highly effective for memorization.

Detailed Breakdown of Early Samvayas:

The introduction provides a glimpse into the content of the initial Samvayas:

• First Samvaya: Discusses fundamental elements like jiva, ajiva, soul, non-soul, action and inaction, the universe and non-universe, merit, demerit, bondage, liberation, influx, cessation, suffering, and shedding, often presented singularly from a collective perspective (sangraha naya). It also mentions the dimensions of Jambu continent and the duration of beings in certain abodes.
• Second Samvaya: Explores dualities such as two types of punishment (danda), bondage, masses (rashi), specific constellations, and the lifespan of Naraka and Dev beings (two palyopama and two sagaropama). It discusses beings achieving liberation in two lives and the two types of karma bondage: attachment (raga bandha) and aversion (dvesha bandha), which encompass greed, delusion, anger, and pride.
• Third Samvaya: Delves into triplicities like three types of punishment, restraint (gupti), impurities (shalya), reverences (gaurava), transgressions (viradhana), and mentions beings attaining liberation in three lives. It also highlights the three Jewels of right faith, knowledge, and conduct (Ratnatraya).
• Fourth Samvaya: Focuses on four kashayas (anger, pride, deceit, greed), four types of meditation (dhyana), four types of discourse (vikatha), four types of consciousness (samjna), four kinds of bondage, and beings achieving liberation in four lives.

This pattern continues for subsequent Samvayas, systematically incorporating numerical themes up to higher counts, detailing specific Jain concepts, historical figures, cosmological details, and lifespan estimations.

Significance and Importance:

The Samvayang Sutra is described as a "treasury" of Jain principles, making Jain teachings accessible to the general populace. Its unique presentation style, relying on numerical correlations, makes it an invaluable resource for understanding the breadth and depth of Jain philosophy, history, and cosmology. It provides historical information about Tirthankaras, their attendants, and significant events, along with geographical and astronomical details. The text is also noted for its use of rhetorical devices and its influence on other Jain scriptures, with many of its principles being referenced in other Angas.

In essence, the Samvayang Sutra is a comprehensive encyclopedic work within Jainism, meticulously cataloging vast amounts of information through the power of numbers, serving as a fundamental text for anyone seeking to understand the Jain worldview.