Some Jaina Canonical Sutras

This book, "Some Jaina Canonical Sutras" by Bimala Charan Law, published in 1949 by the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of various canonical texts within the Jain tradition. The author, a prolific scholar in ancient Indian literature and culture, attempts to present a critical account of these principal Jain texts, drawing upon comparative studies with Buddhist texts.

Key Themes and Contents:

• Structure of the Jaina Canon: The book begins with an introduction to the Jaina canon, acknowledging its development over centuries and the challenges in establishing precise chronology. It notes the oral tradition that preserved the teachings of Mahāvīra, which eventually took literary form over a millennium.
• The Fourteen Pūrvas and Twelve Angas: The text discusses the historical development of the canon, including the traditional fourteen pūrvas and the twelve angas. It mentions the loss of the twelfth anga, the Dṛṣṭivāda, but notes that its contents are believed to be preserved in other extant texts.
• Comparative Study with Buddhism: A significant aspect of the book is its comparative approach, highlighting parallels and influences between Jainism and Buddhism. Law points out the adoption of certain epithets for Mahāvīra from Buddhist terminology and discusses shared technical terms.
• Detailed Analysis of Key Sutras: The core of the book is dedicated to detailed chapters on specific important Jain sūtras, offering summaries of their content and significance. These include:
  • Ācārānga Sūtra (Āyāramga Sutta): The first anga, containing rules of conduct for Jain monks and nuns, emphasizing principles like non-violence, decorum, and careful living.
  • Sūtrakṛtānga (Sūyagadamga): The second anga, focusing on guarding young monks against heretical opinions and guiding them toward spiritual liberation, discussing philosophical concepts like kriyāvāda and critiquing various schools of thought.
  • Sthānānga (Thānamga): The third anga, presenting Jain religious themes numerically, akin to the Buddhist Anguttara Nikāya, and discussing topics like mathematics, philosophical schools, and auspicious signs.
  • Samavāyānga (Samavāyamga): The fourth anga, a compilation that aims to cover the contents of various canonical texts and principal Jain tenets, often using numerical classifications and providing historical insights into lost texts.
  • Vyākhyā-Prajñapti (Bhagavati-Viyahapannatti): The fifth anga, known as the Bhagavatī Sūtra, described as a mosaic of texts, it details Jain tenets, Mahāvīra's teachings on samsāra and karma, and presents a hylozoistic view of nature.
  • Jñātādharmakathā (Nāyādhammakahão): The sixth anga, a narrative text that explains Mahāvīra's teachings through didactic stories, offering insights into social life, etymology, and grammar.
  • Upāsakadashā (Uvāsagadasāo): The seventh anga, focusing on the lives of ten pious householders who achieved liberation, providing vivid details of social life and the practice of Jain vows for the laity.
  • Antakṛta-daśānga (Antagadadasão): The eighth anga, narrating the lives of individuals who achieved liberation at the time of death, often linked to the dispensations of Tirthankaras like Ariṭṭhanemi and Mahāvīra.
  • Anuttaraupapātikadaśā (Aṇuttarovavāiyadaśā): The ninth anga, detailing the lives of those reborn as gods, who eventually descend to attain final emancipation.
  • Praśna-vyākaraṇāni (Paṇhāvāgaraṇāim): The tenth anga, a methodical exposition of concepts like āśrava (influx of sins) and saṁvara (stoppage of influx), emphasizing moral responsibility and the five great vows.
  • Vipāka Sutra (Vivāga-Sūya): The eleventh anga, focusing on the consequences of past actions (karma) in this life and the next, using narrative anecdotes to illustrate the ripening of deeds.
  • Aupapātika Sutra (Ovavaiya Suya): The first upānga, presented in a catechetical method, aiming to impress the greatness of Mahāvīra's personality and teachings, and discussing the hierarchical order of beings.
  • Rājapraśniya Sutra (Rāyapasenaiya Sūya): The second upānga, a philosophical dialogue between a king and a Jain recluse on the nature of afterlife and karma, comparable to the Pāyāsi Sutta in the Buddhist canon.
  • Jivājīvābhigama: The third upānga, dealing with the fundamental classifications of living (jīva) and non-living (ajīva) things, providing a detailed description of the universe and living beings.
  • Prajñāpanā (Paṇṇavaṇā): The fourth upānga, attributed to Āryasyāma, covering various aspects of Jain philosophy, geography, and ethnography, with extensive lists of topics.
  • Jambūdvīpaprajñapti (Jambuddīvapaṇṇatti): The sixth upānga, offering a mythical geography of Jambūdvīpa (India) and Jain cosmology, describing various regions, mountains, and rivers.
  • Nirayāvali Sūtra (Nirayāvaliya Suya): A group of five upāṅgas describing the destinies of individuals, including the unhappy fate of King Kūṇika's half-brothers and the virtuous lives of the Vṛṣṇi princes.
  • Nisiṭha and Mahāniśītha Sūtras (Nisīha and Mahanisiha Sūyas): Cheda sūtras containing rules for monks and nuns, penances for violations, and discussions on confession, karma, and the guru-disciple relationship.
  • Kalpa Sūtra: A significant text for Svetāmbara Jains, primarily focusing on the biography of Mahāvīra, the rules of asceticism, and the lives of the Tirthankaras.
  • Nandi Sūtra and Anuyogadvāra: Companion texts that provide an introduction to the Jain canon, discuss methods of Jain education, and classify different kinds of knowledge.
  • Uttarādhyayana Sūtra (Uttarajjhayana Suya): A mūla sūtra containing admonitions, ethical teachings, and narratives on ascetic life, often compared to Buddhist texts like the Dhammapada.
  • Āvaśyaka Sūtra (Āvassaya Sūya): A mūla sūtra detailing the six essential daily duties of a Jain, including sāmayika, caturvimsatistava, vandana, pratikramaṇa, kāyotsarga, and pratyākhyāna.
  • Daśavaikālika Sūtra (Dasaveyāliya Sūya): Another mūla sūtra, originally compiled to teach the essence of Jainism, emphasizing right knowledge and conduct, and containing sayings on monastic life.
  • Tattvārthādigama Sūtra: A non-canonical but highly respected text for both Svetāmbara and Digambara Jains, systematizing Jain philosophy, logic, and ethics, particularly the "three gems" of right belief, right knowledge, and right conduct.
• Appendices: The book includes appendices that provide further details on specific topics:
  • Appendix I: Vividhatīrtha-Kalpa: Discusses the legends and facts associated with sacred Jain places, offering historical and geographical data.
  • Appendix II: Principles of Jainism: Offers a summary of core Jain doctrines, including ahimsā, karma, transmigration, the yoga method, dualism, and the classification of knowledge and conduct, with a focus on the practical and ethical dimensions.

Overall Significance:

"Some Jaina Canonical Sutras" by B.C. Law is a valuable resource for understanding the foundational texts and principles of Jainism. It provides an accessible introduction to the complex canon, highlighting the historical development, philosophical underpinnings, and ethical framework of this ancient Indian religion. The author's scholarship and comparative approach make it a significant contribution to the study of Jainism for both academic and personal interest.