Agam 18 Upang 07 Jambudveep Pragnapti Sutra

Author(s): A N Upadhye, Hiralal Jain
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur

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JAMBĪDĪVAPAŅŅATTI
2. JPS: Mss., CONTENTS, FORM ETC. There are very few Mss. of JPS preserved in public libraries (Jinaratnakośa, Poona 1944, p. 131 ); still, through the efforts of the editors, some Mss. could be secured from unexpected quarters. The text constituted here is based on five Mss. which are fully described in the Hindi Introduction. The readings from the sixth Ms. are noted in an appendix. The Prākrit text is defective in many places; and in the absence of any commentary etc., the editors had to face many difficulties. In all those few cases, wherever the editors have improved upon the text, the actual readings are duly noted in the foot-notes. It is hoped that this authentic vulgate will serve the purpose of all critical studies for the present.
The Mss. often call this text by the name Jambūdvīpa-prajñapti, but the real title of the work, as mentioned in the colophons of various Uddeśas is Jambūdiva-paņņatti-samgaha (Skt. Jambūdvīpa-prajšapti-saṁgraha). The word Sangrah indicates that the author is compiling the contents from some earlier source the name of which was perhaps Divasāgara-paņqatti as indicated by gathā Nos. I, 6 & 18, XIII, 142. In the absence of more evidence it is not possible to say whether this reference applies to the Srutānga of the same name included under Parikarma which was a part of the 12th Anga, Ditthivāda, according to one tradition.
In this work there are 2429 gāthās divided into thirteen Uddeías. The title of each Uddeśa, mentioned in the colophon at its close, is quite significant and gives a fair idea of its contents.
The First Uddeśa ( Uvagghāya-patthāvo, in gathās 74 ) opens with the Mangala consisting of salutations to five Paramesthins. declares his object to present the contents of this work as they are traditionally received from Mahāvīra, through a series of teachers, Gautama to Lohācārya. Then follows a description of the extent, circumference and area of the Jambūdvīpa which stands at the centre of a series of oceans and islands. Then are detailed the Gopura-dvāras, Kşetras, mountains, rivers, and images of Jinas on their banks etc.
· The Second Uddeśa (Bharaherāvaya-vaṁsa-vannano, in gathās 210 ) contains the descriptions of the seven Kşetras, Bharata etc., and of the six Kulaparvatas which divide them : in all there are 190 Khandas or sectors the extent etc. of which are described in details. Then the Vijayārdha mountain, with so many Vidyādhara towns on both of its Sreộis and with numerous Jinabhavanas on its different peaks, is described extensively. It is from this that the rivers Gangā and Sindhū flow out into the southern Bharata. The various ages, Şuşamā etc., are mentioned, along with the religious aptitude of the inhabitants.