Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals

SR No.: 001656
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 210
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Biology
File Size: 13 MB

Page 12

Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
INTRODUCTION
Historically, culturally, philosophico-literarily, archeologically and commercially, the Jainas form a very important community in India despite its non-significant percentage (1.0%) in her population. They belong to a complete system of life style. They have their (i) torch-bearers (ii) sacred literature and (iii) worship-centers, now spread over all parts of the world. They follow the proto-historic religion of the East under strivers or ascetic tradition. Their primary literature is in a form of Prākṣta language consisting of mixture of 18 major languages and 700 dialects spoken by the general public of the times. But when Sanskra came into prominence, they had their sacred literature written in this language too. A tradition of composing sacred texts in aphorismic form (aphorisms are short and concise technical sentences with deeper meaning which, generally, are not clear without a good explanatory) had developed in Indian philosophical systems during the period between early pre-Christian to early post-Christian centuries. This is evidenced by the aphorismic texts of Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vedanta and Vaiseșika systems composed during the above period. The Jainas also did follow the pattern. Their "Tattvartha Sūtra' (Aphorismic Treatise on Reals) supposed to be composed in northern India by Umāsvāmi (-ti) is the first and most important sacred text in aphorismic Sanskrta respected not only by all the sections of the Jainas but also by the scholars of different systems for its authenticated and systematic presentation of Jaina tenets. It seems this Jainian text is the culmination of the period of aphorismic sacred texts.
The text contains the essence of Jaina religion and philosophy in a systematic way through all of its important aspects- physical as well as spiritual- not so compositely detailed earlier. However, it aims primarily at dealing with seven spiritual reals leading the worldly living to attainment of
ess or salvation. That is why, it is also called as 'Moksa Sāstra' e on Salvation). The Tatty artha-adhigama' (Treatise on Reals) is another name for this text. Many English translators have expressed these titles in different way but the title of 'Aphorismic Treatise on Reals' is preferred here as it gives an idea about the literary nature and contents of the whole text. It has the same place among the Jainas as the Gita for Hindus, Qoran for Muslims, Bible for Christians, Guru Grantha Sahib for Sikhs and Avesta for Parsees. It is more popular among the D-section of the Jainas as indicated by the comparatively large number of Digambara commentaries in the ratio of roughly 3:1. Its reading and recital has been prescribed to be spiritually upgrading and physically purifying.