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## Statement
About six hundred years after the attainment of omniscience by Lord Vardhaman Veer Bhagwan, a severe famine struck the Magadh vihar. To escape the crisis, the great ascetic Nirmath Sadhu migrated to the south, where he was able to uphold his twenty-eight fundamental virtues flawlessly according to the teachings of Veer Vaani. Those who remained in Magadh could not withstand the terrible famine and became entangled in worldly affairs. They abandoned the teachings of Lord Mahavira, giving up Digambarism (wearing clothes) and making changes to the Vitarag Jinvaani under the influence of passions. They distorted the scriptures.
During this time, Acharya Kundkund Dev emerged. Through his knowledge and penance, he studied the original teachings of Lord Mahavira and spread Digambar Jainism from the south. He composed many texts in the Prakrit language, which was prevalent at that time, in accordance with the divine voice of Lord Mahavira.
To enable the devotees to achieve their welfare and become the Supreme Soul by embracing Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct, he primarily composed three texts: Samayapramrit, Panchastikaya Sangrah (Prabhrit), and Pravachansar. He also composed other supporting Prabhrit texts (like Moksha Pahud - Moksha Prabhrit).
To understand the principles described by the omniscient, passionless one, is Right Faith. If someone acquires knowledge of the Jinendra Vaani but does not have faith in it, then no action will bear fruit. This is why even those who recite the eleven Angas and nine Purvas remain trapped in the cycle of birth and death, while those who have even a little faith in the knowledge of the Tush-Masha (a tiny seed) are liberated from the world. Therefore, the attainment of Right Faith, which is the form of faith in the knowledge of the principles, is given the utmost importance.
It is also essential to know the principles taught by the omniscient Lord, because how can one have faith without knowing the principles? Having faith in the wrong things taught by ignorant and passionate individuals does not benefit the soul. In this Panchastikaya Prabhrit, Acharya Kundkund Dev has described in detail the seven principles, nine substances, six dravyas, five astikayas, and the time dravya, as taught by the omniscient, passionless Lord.
To make this text accessible to all and to ensure that the meaning of the Acharya's words is understood correctly, two Sanskrit commentaries and their Hindi translations have been included in this edition.
Brahmachari Shrilal Jain Kavya Tirth