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Lord Mahävira (B.C. 599-527), the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, was the propounder of the Jain Philosophy which is found expounded in the twelve canonical texts called Dvadasängi, the fifth of which is Viñhapannatti. If has been popularly known as 'Bhagvati Sutra' (Pkt. Bhagavai). Among the whole corpus of Jain literature now available, the Bhagavi is the most outstanding in exposition of the Jain Metaphysics.
The present volume is the first one which contains the first two śatakas (chapters) the original text in Roman Script, the English Translation, the Bhāşya (an elaborate annotated commentry by Acharya Shri Mahaprajnaji) and several useful indexes.
. Some of the important topics which have been presented in the Bhāşya on the basis of profound and comparitive studies include the important disciplines of knowledge such as Philosophy, Ethics, Science of Jiva, Cosmology, Cosmogony, Parapsychology and the like. In the context of the relation between jiva (soul) and pudgala (matter), which may be in several forms such as appropriation of the new body in the beginning of a new life, the food-intake, the bondage of Karma, the fruition of Karma and the like many aspects of the Science of Jiva and Science of Karma have been explored. The motion of Jiva through the space while transmigrating from one life to another one, the doctrine of reincarnation, etc. are very interesting topics which have been very minutely examined.
The topics related with Embryology, Biology, Physics etc. are very important both the scholars. Some light is also thrown on the Jain Mathematics. The historical events like adoption of discipleship by the ascetic (Parivrajaka) Skandaka from Lord Mahavira, discussion of some metaphysical problems by the descendent ascetics of the Lord Păshva, the 23rd Tirthankara, and other heretics etc. throw important light on the ancient history of Indian Religions and Philosophies. The problems relating to the origin of cosmos, space and time, breathing by the Jivas of air-bodied beings, the miracalous exercise of tejulesya (comparable to atomic explosion) etc. are examples of the then trends of philosophical thoughts.
On the whole, it can be undoubtedly in declared that the Bhagavai is one of unique treatises on Indian Philosophy
In the words Prof. W. Schubring, "Mähvavira was the most versatile thinker we know of in ancient India, and as J. Deleu Observes: "Mahavira, more than any one around him, even more than the Buddha, was inspired by the spiritual unrest and eagerness of his day."
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