Sambodhi 2011 Vol 34

SR No.: 520784
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 152
Language: English, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Sambodhi, & India
File Size: 4 MB

Page 7

The impact of other Yoga-systems on
Hemachandra's Yogashastra
Sagarmal Jain
Among the eminent and versatile Acharyas of Jaina tradition, who wrote the works on Jaina-Yoga system, such as Jinabhadragani, writer of Dhyānaśataka (5th-6th C.A.D.), Pujyapada Devanandi, writer of Samadhitantra and Istoupadeśa (5th-6th A.D.) Acharya Haribhadra writer of Yogavinsikā, Yoga-śataka, Yoga-drstisummuccaya and Yogabindū (8th century), Shubhachandra writer of Jñanārnava (11th-12h centulry A.D.), the Hemachandra writer of Yogashastra is most prominent. However, the Yogashastra of Hemachandra is considered as one of best works of Jaina-Yoga. However, if we consider on it thoroughly, we have the impacts of various pervious Jaina and nonJaina Acharyas on it. Here, I would like to say regarding Yogashastra, Hemachandra is not original writer but a good compiler. In general, we can say that this work is influenced by many works of previous Jaina Acharyas as well as non-Jaina Acharyas. In the field of Jaina-Yoga we have some impact of non-Jaina Acharyas and their works such as Patanjali's Yogasūtra as well as Gheranda Samhitā, Hathayogapradīpika etc. along with some Jaina Acharyas and their works such as Yoga works of Acharya Haribhadra and Jñānārnava of Shubhachandra of Digambara sect, on it. ... But in canonical age as well as in the post canonical age i.e. the age of Haribhadra, it is very difficult to see any impact of earlier Jaina and non-Jain Acharyas and their works, except the Yogasūtra of Patanjali indirectly or directly, directly they are based on Jaina canonical concepts. In the works of Haribhadra, we do not find any mention of prānāyāma, şacakras and their relating concepts. In the history of Jaina-Yoga for the first time, prannyama was mentioned in Jñānārnava of Shubhachandra and then Acharya Hemachandra's Yogashastra. Hemachandra's Yogashastra is a blend of canonical concepts of Jaina ethics, religion and Yoga along with Patanjali's Yogasūtra and tantric practices of Hindu Hath-Yoga and Buddhist Yogic-sādhanā. Let us try to see the impacts of previous Jaina and non-Jaina Acharyas and their works on Yogashastra of Hemachandra chapter-vise.
Its first chapter deals with the importance of Yogic-sādhanā as well as five mahāvratas, five samitis and three guptis, which were considered as the basic code of