Viman Vatthu

This document is the "Viman Vatthu" (विमान-वत्थु), a Jain text, edited by Rahul Sankrityayan, Anand Kausalyayan, and Jagdish Kashyap, and published by Uttam Bhikkhu in 1937 AC. The catalog link provided points to the Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar in Umara, Surat.

The text is a compilation of stories, presented in Pali and printed in Nagari script, detailing the merits and consequences of actions performed in previous lives that lead to rebirth in celestial realms (vimanas). Each story typically involves a celestial being (devata) who appears to the Venerable Mahamoggallana, a prominent disciple of the Buddha, and explains the virtuous deeds (punya) from their past human lives that resulted in their present glorious existence.

Here's a breakdown of the key aspects based on the provided pages:

Publication and Editorial Details:

• Title: Viman Vatthu (विमान-वत्थु)
• Editors: Rahul Sankrityayan (राहुलः सांकृत्यायनः), Anand Kausalyayan (आनन्दः कौसल्यायनः), Jagdish Kashyap (जगदीशः काश्यपश्च)
• Publisher: Uttam Bhikkhu (उत्तमभिक्खुना)
• Publication Year: 2481 Buddha Era (1937 AC)
• Publisher Address: Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara Surat
• Introductory Note (Page 3): The editors mention the importance of printing Pali literature in Nagari script for Indian history enthusiasts. They note the linguistic proximity of Sanskrit and Pali, but the script difference can make Pali texts difficult for Sanskrit scholars. This publication is presented as an effort to bridge that gap. They acknowledge the assistance of Bhadanta Uttam Sthavira.

Content and Structure: The "Viman Vatthu" is structured into different sections (vaggos) containing various "vimanas" or celestial mansions, each associated with a specific story. The table of contents (Pages 5-6) lists these sections and the individual vimana stories:

• Pittha Vaggo (पीठ वग्गो): Contains stories related to seats (pittha), including various descriptions of celestial seats made of gold and precious stones. The examples shown include Pitha Vimana (पीठ विमानं).
• Chittalata Vaggo (चित्तलता वग्गो): Features stories related to celestial groves and pleasures. Examples include Dasi Vimana (दासी विमानं), Lakhuma Vimana (लखुमाविमानं), Aachamadayika Vimana (आचामदायिकाविमानं), Chandali Vimana (चण्डालिविमानं), Bhaddithika Vimana (भद्दित्थिकाविमानं), Sondinana Vimana (सोनदिनाविमानं), and Daposastha Vimana (दपोसथाविमानं).
• Paricchattaka Vaggo (पारिच्छत्तक वग्गो): Focuses on vimanas associated with the Paricchattaka tree and other celestial themes. Examples include Ulaara Vimana (उळारविमानं), Ucchu Vimana (उच्छुविमानं), Pallanka Vimana (पल्लङ्कविमानं), Lata Vimana (लताविमानं), Gutila Vimana (गुत्तिलविमानं), Daddalla Vimana (दद्दल्लविमानं), Sesavati Vimana (सेसवतीविमानं), Mallika Vimana (मल्लिकाविमानं), Visalakshi Vimana (विसालक्खिविमानं), and Paricchatta Vimana (पारिच्छत्तकविमानं).
• Manjulavaggo (मञ्जलुवग्गो): Contains stories with celestial mansions characterized by beauty and grandeur. Examples include Macetta Vimana (मछुट्टकविमानं), Pabhassara Vimana (पभस्सरविमानं), Naga Vimana (नागविमानं), Alona Vimana (अलोणविमानं), Kancikadayika Vimana (कञ्चिकदायिकाविमानं), Vihara Vimana (विहारविमानं), and Caturitthivimana (चतुरिस्थिविमानं).
• Payasivaggo (पायासिवग्गो): Features stories related to offerings and charitable acts. Examples include Ambavimana (अम्बविमानं), Pita Vimana (पीतविमानं), Ucchu Vimana (उच्छुविमानं), Vandana Vimana (बन्दनविमानं), and Rajjumala Vimana (रज्जुमालाविमानं).
• Maharathavaggo (महारथवग्गो): Includes stories of great chariots and powerful celestial beings. Examples include Manduka Devaputta Vimana (मण्डुकदेवपुत्तविमानं), Revati Vimana (रेवतिविमानं), Chattamāṇavaka Vimana (छत्तमाणवकविमानं), Kakkatārasa Vimana (कक्कटारसविमानं), Dvārapālaka Vimana (द्वारपालकविमानं), Karaṇīya Vimana (करणीयविमानं), Sūcī Vimana (सूचिविमानं), Nāga Vimana (नागविमानं), Cūla Vimana (चूलविमानं), and Mahāratha Vimana (महारथविमानं).

Key Themes and Narrative Pattern:

• Karma and Rebirth: The central theme is the law of karma, where actions in this life determine the circumstances of rebirth in celestial or lower realms. Good deeds lead to heavenly abodes.
• The Role of Mahamoggallana: Venerable Mahamoggallana is consistently portrayed as the questioner, approaching the celestial beings to understand the causes of their splendid existences.
• Virtuous Deeds: The stories highlight various acts of merit, including:
  • Dana (Giving/Charity): Offering food, alms, clothing, seats, or shelter to monks and other worthy individuals.
  • Sila (Morality/Virtue): Adhering to ethical precepts, abstaining from harming living beings, lying, stealing, and intoxicants.
  • Devotion and Respect: Showing reverence to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
  • Kindness and Compassion: Helping those in need, showing filial piety, and maintaining a virtuous disposition.
• Celestial Enjoyments: The vimanas are described with opulent details, including beautiful palaces, gardens, music, dance, and all kinds of sensual pleasures, emphasizing the rewards of meritorious actions.
• Spiritual Understanding: While enjoying celestial pleasures, the beings often retain their spiritual awareness, sometimes even recalling past lives and the Buddha's teachings, which inspires them to continue practicing virtue.

Example Story Snippet (Page 7, Pita Vimana): The text begins with the Pitha Vimana. A celestial being appears, radiant and adorned. Mahamoggallana asks how she attained such a state. She replies that as a human, she offered a seat to a pure and virtuous monk, and this act of generosity brought her the present rewards. The repeated structure in these stories is the questioning by Mahamoggallana, the celestial being's response detailing their past virtuous deed, and the concluding affirmation of how that deed led to their current celestial state.

In essence, "Viman Vatthu" serves as a didactic text, illustrating the profound impact of ethical conduct and spiritual practices on one's destiny, particularly in the context of Jain philosophy and cosmology. It aims to encourage righteous living by showcasing the blissful results of virtuous actions in the afterlife.