Upasaka Dasha Sutram - Book Summary

The provided text is the first volume of A. F. Rudolf Hoernle's edition of the Upāsaka Daśā Sūtra, titled "The UVĀSASADASÃO or The Religious Profession of an UVĀSAGA." This work is presented as the seventh Anga (limb or chapter) of the Jain canon.

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided materials:

I. Title and Author:

Title: The UVĀSASADASÃO or The Religious Profession of an UVĀSAGA
Author: Edited by A. F. Rudolf Hoernle, Ph. D., Tübingen.
Publisher: Published for the Bibliotheca Indica, printed at the Baptist Mission Press, Calcutta.
Year: 1890.
Significance: It is identified as the seventh Anga of the Jains.

II. Editorial Context and Materials:

Hoernle's edition is meticulously prepared, utilizing various manuscripts and a Sanskrit commentary. The introduction details the critical apparatus:

Manuscripts Utilized for the Text: Hoernle lists eight manuscripts (A-H) and one print (E) that were used for the primary text. These manuscripts vary in age, origin, and quality, with detailed descriptions of their condition, dating, and content. He notes the challenges in collation due to manuscript availability and printing progress.
Manuscripts Utilized for the Commentary: Hoernle lists several manuscripts (a, c, e, f, h) for the Sanskrit commentary by Abhayadeva Sūri. He discusses their provenance and agreement, noting that MS. 'a' and the print 'e' were the primary sources for the commentary.
Textual Analysis and Principles: Hoernle explains his editorial principles, emphasizing:
- Conformity to Hemachandra's Grammar: He aimed to conform the Prakrit text to the rules laid down by Hemachandra, considering it the most scientifically defensible approach given the available information.
- Manuscript Consensus: While respecting manuscript consensus for recensions, he prioritized Hemachandra's grammar for orthography due to the extensive variations in spelling across manuscripts.
- Authority of the Commentary: He notes that Abhayadeva's commentary often supported the readings found in the majority of his consulted manuscripts, indicating that this was likely the authorized version known to the commentator.
- Reconstruction: He acknowledges the difficulty in restoring the text to its absolute original form or even to Devarddhi Gaṇin's redaction due to the numberless variations.
- Critical Apparatus: Hoernle assures that variations from manuscripts F, G, and H, which were not available for the entire work, were included in an "Additional Critical Note" for completeness.

III. Author of the Commentary:

The commentary is by Abhayadeva Sūri.
The name was not always explicitly mentioned in the manuscripts.
Tradition ascribes commentaries to nine Angas (Nos. 3-11) to him.
The dating of the commentary is discussed, with a potential discrepancy between the Bikaner manuscript's date (Samvat 1117) and other sources (Samvat 1120), suggesting Abhayadeva wrote the Upāsaka Daśā commentary after his commentary on the Dharmajñātākathā.
The collective nature of Abhayadeva's commentaries (covering the 7th, 8th, and 9th Angas) is highlighted as an explanation for why his name might not appear at the end of the Upāsaka Daśā commentary alone.

IV. Content of the Upāsaka Daśā Sūtra:

The "Upāsaka Daśā Sūtra" details the religious lives and practices of ten principal lay disciples (upāsakas and upāsikās) of Mahāvīra. Each of the ten lectures (adhyāyanas) focuses on one such devoted lay follower who has achieved a high level of spiritual understanding and commitment.

The volume contains:

Introduction: Detailing the editorial process, manuscript collations, and textual analysis.
Text (Original Prakrit): The core text of the Upāsaka Daśā Sūtra, divided into ten lectures (adhyāyanas).
Commentary (Sanskrit): The commentary by Abhayadeva Sūri, providing explanations and interpretations of the Prakrit text.
Index: An index of Prakrit words found in the text, with explanations in Sanskrit for Indian scholars.
Additional Critical Note: Listing textual variations.
Errata: Corrections for printing errors.

V. The First Lecture (Adhyāyana I): Ānanda Upāsaka

The initial pages (starting from page 28 of the text) begin the first lecture, focusing on the lay disciple Ānanda. The text describes:

Setting: The city of Champā, a Punya-bhadra park (Ceitya).
The Disciple: Ānanda, a householder in the city of Vāṇiyagāma, described as wealthy and influential.
His Wealth: Details of his immense wealth, including numerous caches of gold coins.
His Wife: Śivanandā, beautiful and devoted.
The Occasion: Lord Mahāvīra arrives in Vāṇiyagāma with his retinue. King Jitasatru also arrives.
Ānanda's Devotion: Ānanda, hearing of Mahāvīra's arrival, goes to pay his respects. He listens to the Dharma (religious discourse).
Ānanda's Vow: After hearing the Dharma, Ānanda expresses his faith and takes on the twelve vows of a lay follower (śrāvaka), including abstaining from major sins like killing, lying, stealing, unchastity, and greed, and adhering to specific restrictions regarding possessions and activities.
Specific Vows: The text details his adherence to the five major vows (mahāvrata) and seven minor vows (śikṣāvrata), which constitute the layman's code of conduct.
His Future Life: Mahāvīra predicts Ānanda's future rebirth in the Śukra heaven for a long lifespan after his current life.

The initial chapters are quite detailed in enumerating the specific restrictions and practices undertaken by Ānanda, covering various aspects of daily life, from food and clothing to conduct and possessions, all framed within the context of religious observance and detachment. The text also includes encounters with divine beings who test his resolve or offer blessings.

VI. Other Lectures Briefly Introduced:

Later pages preview subsequent lectures, introducing other lay disciples and their stories:

Lecture II: Focuses on Kāmadeva.
Lecture III: Focuses on Chulapitrī (wife of Gṛhapati Chūlanipitrī).
Lecture IV: Focuses on Surādeva.
Lecture V: Focuses on Chullashataka.
Lecture VI: Focuses on Gṛhapati Kuṇḍakālika.
Lecture VII: Focuses on Śātalaputra.
Lecture VIII: Focuses on Mahāśataka.
Lecture IX: Focuses on Nandinīpriyā.
Lecture X: Focuses on Śālīhiputrī.

Each lecture is structured around the life and practices of these lay followers, often involving divine tests or interactions that illustrate their spiritual progress and adherence to Jain principles.

VII. Editorial Notes and Apparatus:

Hoernle's detailed introduction and the extensive footnotes throughout the text highlight the scholarly effort involved in presenting this ancient Jain scripture. The critical notes are crucial for understanding the textual variations and the editor's decisions in establishing the final text.

In essence, this volume provides a foundational text and scholarly commentary on the lives of devoted lay followers in Jainism, as expounded by Lord Mahāvīra. It serves as a guide to the religious duties and ethical conduct expected of lay adherents within the Jain tradition.