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NandiSootra
In this sutra, besides Jain philosophy, detailed description of other sects and schools has been given. With a logical analysis of principles of other schools the Jain principles have been established. That is the reason that it is very useful in bolstering the spiritual practices and samyaktva.
The important available commentaries on Sutrakrutang Sutra are by Bhadrabahu (niryukti), Jindas Mahattar (churni), and Sheelankachrya (Vritti).
3. STHANANG SUTRA [141] MEANING-Question - What is this Sthanang Sutra?
Answer - In Sthanang Sutra or with the help of the Propagations in Sthanang Sutra the subject of jiva (being) is validated, the subject of ajiva (non-being or matter) is validated, ; the subject of jivaajiva is validated, sva-mat! Or Jain principles are validated, par-mat or principles of other schools are validated, sva-par-mat or principles of both theseare validated,' and the subjects of lok inhabited space), alok (un-inhabited space or the space beyond), and lokalok are validated.
In Sthanang Sutra there are descriptions of multi-peak mountains, summits, hills, pinnacles, flats, ponds, caves, caverns, lakes, rivers, etc.
Sthanang Sutra has limited vachana (readings, lessons, compilations, editions). It has countable Anuyogadwar, countable verses, countable couplets, countable niryukti (parsing), countable sangrahanis, and countable pratipattis.
This Sthanang Sutra is third among the Angas. It has one shrutskandha (part), 10 chapters and 21 uddeshan kaal and 21 samuddeshan kaal. Measured in pad (sentence units) it has seventy two thousand pads. It has countable alphabets, infinite gum (meanings and infinite paryaya (variations). It has descriptions of limited number of mobile beings, and infinite immobile beings. Established with the help of shashvat (eternal or fundamental), knit (created or experimented) and natural evidences, the tenets of the Jina have been stated (akhyayita), propagated (prajnapit), detailed (prarupit), explained (with the help of metaphors) (darshit), clarified (with the help of examples) (nidarshit), and simplified (with the help of discourse style) (upadarshit).
It has been presented in such charan-karan style that if a person is engrossed in its studies, he becomes a scholar and an expert of the subject.
This concludes the description of Sthanang Sutra.
COMMENTARY -Divided m ten chapters, this shrut has been written in a unique style. In this, the nomenclature - chapter has been replaced by sthana (place or position). Every sthana carries the number that is exclusively associated with the group names listed in that chapter in terms of constituent number of units of that specific group. Brief description of these is as follows -
Sthana-1 - Soul is one, therefore this chapter lists and describes things that have such unitary existence.
Sthana-2 - This chapter lists and describes things that exist in groups of two or popularly expressed in twos. e.g. jiva-ajiva (soul-matter), punya-paap (merit-sin), dharma-adharma (religion-non-religion), atma-paramatma, etc.
Sthana-3 - This chapter lists and describes things that exist in gi oups of three or popularly expressed in threes. e.g. ratnatraya (three spiritual gems) - jnanadarshan-charitra (knowledge-perception-conduct); three types of men - good, medium, bad; three types of dharma (duties) - shrutdharma-eharitradharmaastikayadharma (scriptural duties-conduct related duties-duties as an independent entity); etc. Aagam-44 - Nandi Sootra
130 Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
