Yantrapurvak Karmadi Vichar

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Yantrapurvak Karmadi Vichar," based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Yantrapurvak Karmadi Vichar (Thoughtful Consideration of Karma and Other Matters Through Diagrams) Author(s): Jain Mahila Mandal (Jain Women's Association) Publisher: Jain Mahila Mandal Publication Details: Published from Shri Shantinath Maharaj Upaashray, Pydhuni, Mumbai, in Veer Samvat 2458 (1988 AD) and Vikram Samvat 1988 (1931 AD). Printed by Mavji D. Patel at the New Laxmi Printing Press, Mandvi, Bombay. Core Purpose: This book is a concise and diagrammatic explanation of Jain Karma theory, specifically designed to make the complex concepts of the six Karmagranthas (scriptures on karma) accessible to ordinary individuals. It aims to clarify difficult aspects of the Karmagranthas that might be challenging for those with general intelligence.

Key Features and Content:

1. Diagrammatic Approach (Yantra): The title emphasizes "Yantrapurvak," meaning "through diagrams." The book utilizes numerous tables and charts (referred to as yantras) to illustrate the intricate relationships between different karmic principles, spiritual stages, and modes of existence. This visual approach is central to its purpose of simplifying complex information.

2. Structure: The book is structured around the study of Karma, broken down into sections that correspond to traditional Karmagranthas or related concepts:

   • First Karmagranth (Karma Vipaka): Details the eight types of karma and their sub-categories.
   • Second Karmagranth (Karma Stava): Discusses the principles of karma binding (bandh), manifestation (udaya), premature shedding (udīraṇā), and existence (sattā) in relation to the fourteen spiritual stages (guṇasthānas).
   • Third Karmagranth (Bandh Svāmitva): Focuses on the binding of karma across the fourteen guṇasthānas and 79 mārgaṇās (paths of inquiry/types of beings), often presented in tabular (yantra) format.
   • Fourth Section (Shat-ashiti Karmagranthadi Gat Vichar): This is a major part of the book, delving into various classifications based on 21 aspects (dvära). These include:
     • Life forms (jivsthāna), spiritual stages (guṇasthāna), consciousness modes (yoga), types of perception (upayoga), subtle spiritual states (leshya), relative quantities (alpabahutva).
     • Specific topics covered include life doors, movement doors, sense doors, body types, consciousness modes, feelings, passions (kashaya), spiritual states (samyaqtva), knowledge types, perception types, conduct types, usage types, food intake, speech, etc.
     • It details the causes and permutations (bhanga) of karmic binding for each guṇasthāna, the relationship between guṇasthāna and manifestation (udaya) across 62 mārgaṇās, and the application of these principles to 81 points of discourse.
     • Includes detailed explanations of the fourteen guṇasthānas and the fundamental (mūl) and secondary (uttar) spiritual states.
   • Fifth Section (Panchama Shatak Karmagranthadi Gat Vichar): This section likely covers further detailed classifications of karmas, including:
     • Meritorious karmic activities (punya prakṛti) - 42 types.
     • Demeritorious karmic activities (pāpa prakṛti) - 82 types.
     • The 42 types of inflow (āśrava).
     • The 57 types of cessation (saṃvara).
     • Detailed breakdowns of karmas based on their characteristics: permanent binding (dhruvabandhī - 47), non-permanent binding (adhruvabandhī - 73), permanent manifestation (dhruvodayī - 27), non-permanent manifestation (adhruvodayī - 95), perpetual existence (dhruvasattāka - 130), non-perpetual existence (adhruvasattāka - 28).
     • Classifications by effect: altogether destructive (sarvaghātī - 20), partially destructive (deśaghātī - 25), non-destructive (aghātī - 75).
     • Classifications by transmigration: migrating (parāvartamāna - 91), non-migrating (aparāvartamāna - 29).
     • Manifestation (udaya) based on timing: time-bound (kṣetravipākī - 4), life-bound (bhavavipākī - 4), soul-bound (jīvavipākī - 78), matter-bound (pudgalavipākī - 36).
     • Causes of binding (bandha hetu) - 57 types.
     • Detailed explanations of the 42 types of āśrava and 57 types of saṃvara.
     • The 16 types of meditation (dhyāna).
     • The 7 types of samudghāta.
     • The 53 types of bhāvanā (mental contemplations).
     • Explanation of the 82 pāpa prakṛti and 42 puṇya prakṛti binding.
     • Classifications of karmas based on their duration and manifestation across the 62 mārgaṇās.
     • Detailed analysis of mohanīya karma (deluding karma) binding, manifestation, and existence across guṇasthānas and mārgaṇās, including their permutations (bhanga), states (pada), and groups of states (padavṛnda).
     • Similar detailed analysis for nāmakarma (name karma).
     • Analysis of life-stages (jīvasthāna) in relation to guṇasthānas, yoga, upayoga, leshya, causes of binding, etc.
     • Discussions on purification stages (upśam śreṇi) and the bliss of liberation (siddhi).

3. Accessibility: The preface explicitly states that the book aims to clarify concepts that are difficult to understand through Karmagranthas alone, especially for the general populace. It highlights that the book includes excerpts from rare ancient texts and clarifies complex elements from the Karmagranthas for easier comprehension.

4. Educational Value: The book is presented as a "blessing" for students of Karmagranthas. It's intended as a motivational tool for weakening jñānāvaraṇīya karma (knowledge-obscuring karma) and achieving spiritual liberation (nirjarā).

5. Distribution: The book is intended to be distributed "free of cost" (vīnamūlye) to encourage its widespread use for spiritual upliftment.

6. Illustrative Content (Implied by Tables/Charts): The detailed table of contents and page references reveal an extensive coverage of permutations and combinations of karmic states across various classifications. For example, the content lists:

   • The 158 uttara bheda (secondary types) of the eight karmas.
   • Detailed analysis of the 158 prakṛti (karmic types) based on binding, manifestation, and existence.
   • Calculations of bhanga (permutations) for causes of binding across different stages and conditions (e.g., the text lists thousands of permutations for causes of binding involving combinations of body types, senses, passions, and consciousness modes).
   • The 563 types of beings in relation to 62 mārgaṇās and 14 guṇasthānas.
   • The text provides numerical data, often in the form of koti (crores) and complex calculations related to permutations and relative quantities (alpabahutva).

7. Key Concepts Explained: The book aims to clarify concepts such as:

   • Āśrava (inflow of karma) - 42 types.
   • Saṃvara (cessation of karma inflow) - 57 types.
   • Dhyāna (meditation) - 16 types.
   • Samudghāta (process of shedding karma) - 7 types.
   • Bhāvanā (mental contemplations) - 53 types.
   • The nature of permanent (dhruva) and non-permanent (adhruva) binding, manifestation, and existence.
   • The impact of different types of karma (all-destructive, partially destructive, non-destructive).
   • The role of time-bound, life-bound, and soul-bound karma manifestation.
   • The relationship between guṇasthānas and karmic processes.
   • The classification of 62 mārgaṇās and their karmic implications.

In essence, "Yantrapurvak Karmadi Vichar" is a meticulously organized and visually aided guide to Jain Karma theory. It breaks down the foundational scriptures on karma into manageable, often numerical and tabular, components, making the profound and extensive teachings of Jainism on karma accessible to a wider audience.