Jains Today in World

SR No.: 001794
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Pirre Paul AMIEL
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, Religion, E000, & E005
File Size: 24 MB

Page 95

62 : JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD śrāvakācāra by Samantabhadra (Vth-VI century), the Srāvakācāra by Amitagati (Xith century), the Anagāradharmāmsta and the Sāgāradharmāmsta by Pt. Āśādhara (XIII century).
4) The Dravyānuyoga (account on substances) deals with Jain philosophy. It contains, among others, the Tattvārthādhigama-sūtra (Treatise on realities) by Umāsvāmi or Umāsvāti. This book is acknowledged by both the Svetāmbara and the Digambara. It is the first Jain sacred book in Sanskrit in the form of aphorisms (sutra); the other Digambara works are composed in Saurasenī (a special branch Prakrit which was used in Western Uttar Pradesh in early centuries Christian era). Commented by the author himself and by numerous learned Śvetāmbara and Digambara, it is a clear and substantial summary of the doctrine, very useful for recent works. There are very few divergent points about it between adepts of the two sections. It has been translated many times. Of these, let us especially mention the most recent one in English by late Nathmal Tatia published in 1994 by Harper Collins under the title “That which is”.
The Tattvārtha-sūtra, deals in ten chapters with: the categories of truths, the nature of the soul, the lower and middle regions, gods, substances, the inflow of karma, the vows, karmic bondage, inhibiting and wearing off karma and liberation. It is actually the “Bible" of all the Jains giving a summary of their philosophy and tenets.
This treatise is held in high esteem because the books we have cited above are more or less systematically arranged and written in Ardhamāgadhī language that is obsolete, as opposed to Sanskrit that has remained, throughout many provinces, the language for philosophical debates.
The recent Samana Suttaṁ (or Shramaņa Sūtram) also deserves mention. Like Umāsvāti's Tattvārtha-sūtra, this book is acknowledged by all Jains. Inspired by Acharya Vinoba it has been compiled in Prakrit by Jinendra Varņi (1922-1983). Critically examined by several eminent monks of different orders, as well as great scholars and