Vitrag Vigyana Pathmala 2

This document is a Jain religious text titled "Vitrag Vigyana Pathmala Bhag 2" (Path of Dispassionate Knowledge, Part 2) authored by Dr. Hukamchand Bharilla, published by Todarmal Granthamala Jaipur. It is a collection of lessons designed for Jain education.

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

Overall Purpose: The book appears to be a curriculum for Jain students, covering fundamental aspects of Jainism. It aims to provide knowledge about the core principles, revered figures, and practices within the Jain tradition.

Key Sections and Content:

• Page 1-4: Front Matter: This includes the title page, author and publisher information, acknowledgment of donation for digitization, version history, and printing details. It highlights the book's purpose as an educational resource and its availability in electronic format.

• Page 5: Table of Contents: This page lists the topics covered in the book:

  1. Upasana (Dev-Shastra-Guru Pujan): Worship of the Divine, Scriptures, and the Spiritual Guide.
  2. Dev-Shastra-Guru: Detailed explanation of the Divine, Scriptures, and the Spiritual Guide.
  3. Seven Principles (Seven Tattvas) and Related Misconceptions: Discusses the fundamental tenets of Jainism and common misunderstandings.
  4. Four Anuyogas: An explanation of the fourfold classification of Jain scriptures.
  5. Three Worlds: Description of the Jain cosmology.
  6. Seven Vices (Sapta Vyasan): Discussion of the seven major vices to be avoided.
  7. Non-violence (Ahimsa): A Discussion: An in-depth exploration of the concept of Ahimsa.
  8. Ashtahnika Mahaparva: Information about the significant Ashtahnika festival.
  9. Lord Parshvanath: A biographical account of the 23rd Tirthankara.
  10. Dev-Shastra-Guru Stuti: Praises of the Divine, Scriptures, and the Spiritual Guide.

• Page 6-11: Path 1 - Upasana (Dev-Shastra-Guru Pujan): This section details the ritual of worshipping the Divine (Dev), Scriptures (Shastra), and the Spiritual Guide (Guru). It includes devotional verses (stotras) for each, describing the qualities of the Jina (the Divine), the Jain scriptures, and the Digambara monks. The verses use the traditional offerings (water, sandalwood, rice, flowers, etc.) metaphorically to represent the purification of vices and the attainment of spiritual qualities.

• Page 12-17: Path 2 - Dev-Shastra-Guru: This section focuses on defining and understanding the concepts of Dev (Divine), Shastra (Scripture), and Guru (Spiritual Guide) in Jainism.

  • It features a biographical sketch of Acharya Samantabhadra, highlighting his contributions to Jain literature and philosophy.
  • The text then delves into the definitions:
    • Dev: A being who is free from defects, omniscient, and a benevolent preacher. Key qualities are freedom from attachment (Raga), aversion (Dvesha), and delusion (Moha).
    • Shastra: The teachings of the Divine, which are unalterable, align with reality, and guide towards the right path, dispelling falsehood.
    • Guru: A spiritual guide who is detached from worldly desires, free from worldly concerns and possessions, and deeply engaged in knowledge, meditation, and penance. They are specifically identified as Nirgranth Digambara Sadhus (ascetics who are naked and free from attachments).
  • A dialogue between two characters, Subodh and Prabodh, illustrates these concepts through simple conversation, making them accessible.

• Page 18-21: Path 3 - Seven Tattvas and Related Misconceptions: This section, based on Pandit Daulatramji's "Chhedala" (a popular Jain text), explains the seven fundamental principles of Jainism (Jiva, Ajiva, Asrava, Bandha, Samvara, Nirjara, Moksha) and the common errors in understanding them.

  • It emphasizes that correct understanding of these principles is essential for Right Faith (Samyakdarshan).
  • It details misconceptions related to:
    • Jiva and Ajiva: Mistaking the soul (Jiva) for the non-soul (Ajiva, like the body) and vice-versa.
    • Asrava: Mistaking the cause of bondage (vicious passions like Raga-Dvesha) for happiness.
    • Bandha: Not understanding that both good (punya) and bad (papa) karma lead to bondage and are hindrances to liberation.
    • Samvara: Considering the path to stillness (Samvara) through self-knowledge and detachment as difficult or painful.
    • Nirjara: Believing that the fulfillment of desires, rather than their cessation, brings happiness, and misunderstanding the process of karma elimination.
    • Moksha: Mistaking worldly pleasures for the true bliss of liberation.

• Page 22-26: Path 4 - Four Anuyogas: This lesson, based on Pandit Todarmalji's "Moksha Marg Prakashak," explains the four modes of Jain scriptural discourse, known as Anuyogas.

  • It begins with a dialogue between a student and a teacher to illustrate the purpose and content of each Anuyoga.
  • Prathamanuyoga: Deals with stories of great souls (like Tirthankaras) to illustrate the fruits of virtue and vice, ultimately promoting detachment. Examples include Puranas and biographies.
  • Karananuyoga: Focuses on the detailed classification of souls, karma theory, and cosmology (three worlds), often involving mathematics and calculation. Examples: Gommatasara Jivakanda, Gommatasara Karmakanda.
  • Charananuyoga: Guides conduct and ethical practices for householders and ascetics, emphasizing the path to righteousness and detachment. Examples: Ratnakaranda Shravakachara, Purusharthasiddhiupaya.
  • Dravyanuyoga: Explains the fundamental substances (Dravyas) and principles (Tattvas) of the universe, emphasizing self-knowledge and the distinction between the self and non-self. It is characterized by logical reasoning (Nyaya). Examples: Samaysara, Dravya Sangraha.
  • The discussion highlights the importance of understanding these Anuyogas for spiritual progress.

• Page 27-30: Path 5 - Three Worlds: This section, based on Acharya Umaswami's (GridhPichh) "Tattvartha Sutra," describes the Jain understanding of the universe.

  • It explains the Three Worlds:
    • Adholoka (Lower World): Consisting of seven hells (Narakas), where beings suffer due to their actions.
    • Madhyaloka (Middle World): The realm where humans reside, characterized by continents and oceans, including Jambudvipa. Key geographical features and the division of Jambudvipa into seven regions (Kshetras) are described.
    • Urdhvaloka (Upper World): Comprising heavenly abodes (Svargas) and various celestial regions leading to the Siddhashila, the abode of liberated souls.
  • It mentions the significance of Videha Kshetra as the dwelling place of living Tirthankaras like Lord Simandhar Swami.

• Page 31-36: Path 6 - Seven Vices (Sapta Vyasan): This lesson, attributed to Kavi Banarasi Dasji, discusses the seven major vices that lead to suffering and unfortunate rebirths.

  • The seven vices are gambling, consuming meat, consuming alcohol, illicit sexual intercourse (with prostitutes or others' wives), hunting, stealing, and adultery.
  • The text differentiates between Dravya Vyasan (gross vices) and Bhava Vyasan (internal vices), emphasizing that the latter, such as attachment to the body or desire for worldly gains, are the root causes of suffering.
  • It stresses that the renunciation of these vices is crucial for attaining Right Faith and self-realization.

• Page 37-41: Path 7 - Ahimsa: A Discussion: Based on Acharya Amritchandra's work, this section provides a profound exploration of Ahimsa (non-violence).

  • It challenges the common misconception that Ahimsa only relates to external actions like not harming others.
  • Acharya Amritchandra's core definition of Ahimsa is the non-arising of passions (Raga, Dvesha, Moha), and conversely, the arising of these passions is considered violence (Hinsa).
  • It explains that even actions like lying, stealing, and unchaste conduct are forms of violence because they harm the soul's pure consciousness.
  • The text distinguishes between Dravya Hinsa (external violence) and Bhava Hinsa (internal violence), with the latter being the more fundamental and significant aspect.
  • It asserts that even seemingly "good" attachments or desires (Shubha Raga) are a form of attachment and thus violence, albeit milder than intense negative emotions.
  • The ultimate goal is the complete cessation of all passions to achieve true Ahimsa.

• Page 42-45: Path 8 - Ashtahnika Mahaparva: This lesson explains the significance and practices of the Ashtahnika Mahaparva, a major Jain festival.

  • It clarifies that "Ashtahnika" refers to an eight-day period of observance.
  • The festival is celebrated three times a year: in Kartik, Phalguna, and Ashadha.
  • It mentions that celestial beings go to Nandishwar Dwipa to celebrate this festival, which involves worship, penance, and contemplation. Since humans cannot go there, they observe it with devotion in their own locations.
  • The core of the celebration involves Siddha-chakra Vidhan (worship of the Siddhas, the liberated souls), which aims to foster detachment and spiritual growth. The meaning of the Jayamalas (laudatory verses) sung during the ritual is also discussed.
  • The text emphasizes that these festivals are not about indulgence but about self-discipline and spiritual progress.

• Page 46-50: Path 9 - Lord Parshvanath: This section provides a biography of the 23rd Tirthankara, Lord Parshvanath, based on the work of Kavi Pandit Bhudar Dasji.

  • It details his birth in Varanasi, his princely upbringing, and his inherent spiritual inclinations.
  • A significant event is described where Parshvanath, through his divine knowledge, intervenes to save a pair of snakes (the future Dharanendra and Padmavati) being burned by a ascetic. This event deeply impacts him, leading to his renunciation.
  • It recounts his rigorous asceticism, the persecution he faced (up-sarga) from a divine being named Samvara, and his attainment of Keval Gyana (Omniscience).
  • The role of Dharanendra and Padmavati in protecting Lord Parshvanath during his ordeal is discussed.
  • His teachings focused on self-discipline, detachment, and the realization of the soul as the source of infinite knowledge and happiness.
  • His final liberation (Nirvana) occurred at Sammed Shikhar.

• Page 51: Path 10 - Dev-Shastra-Guru Stuti: This section contains verses of praise for the Divine (Dev), Scriptures (Shastra), and the Spiritual Guide (Guru), authored by Dr. Hukamchand Bharilla himself.

  • The verses articulate the seeker's journey of understanding the true nature of the Dev (Jina as a pure soul, not a being to be petitioned for worldly favors), the Shastra (Jain scriptures as the repository of truth and the path to liberation), and the Guru (Nirgranth Digambara ascetics who embody the teachings).
  • It emphasizes that true devotion involves understanding and following their path rather than seeking external help.

Overall Summary:

"Vitrag Vigyana Pathmala Bhag 2" serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the core tenets of Jainism. It systematically introduces the concepts of the Divine, scriptures, and spiritual guides, delving into the foundational principles of the faith, the structure of the universe, ethical conduct, and the profound meaning of non-violence. Through the lives of revered figures like Acharya Samantabhadra, Pandit Daulatramji, Pandit Todarmalji, Acharya Umaswami, Kavi Banarasi Dasji, Acharya Amritchandra, and Lord Parshvanath, the book aims to inspire readers towards spiritual realization and detachment. The emphasis throughout is on understanding the true nature of the soul and the path of liberation from worldly suffering through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.