Agam 44 Chulika 01 Nandi Sutra English Translation

Author(s): Dipratnasagar, Deepratnasagar
Publisher: Deepratnasagar

Page 7

Nandi Sootra
never shadow it. May this sangh-moon, which is radiant with the light of samyaktva, bring victory to all?
PRAISE OF THE SANGH-SUN (DET )
[010] MEANING -The sangh is like the sun. Sun-like sangh has dimmed the twinkling of stars and planets that are the groups of dogmatic followers of falsehood. It is ever brilliant with the radiant fire of austerity. It is removing the darkness of the world by spreading the light of right knowledge. May this sangh-sun, which is the embodiment of discipline of senses and control of desires, ameliorate all.
PRAISE OF THE SANGH-SEA (HT 45)
[011] MEANING -The sangh is like a sea. It has perseverance in discipline as its expansive shore, it is infested with self-study (pursuit of virtues) as its marine animals like crocodiles that consume smaller beings that are karmas. It is rich with pious thoughts or meditation that are its pearls and it is undisturbed by afflictions that are its marine beings. May such sangh-sea ameliorate all.
PRAISE OF THE SANGH-MOUNTAIN (ET )
[012] MEANING -The sangh is like the Maha-mandar mountain. The base of this great mountain is made up of diamonds of right perception and which is free of cleavages like doubt. It has deep foundation of interest in fundamentals. It is embellished with the gems of dharma (virtues of character) and it has a golden girdle of virtues like magnanimity.
[013] MEANING -It has out crops of rocks of the vows of subduing senses and mind. The lofty attitude of pursuit of virtues forms its cliffs. It has the Nandan forest (a) of contentment which is filled with the fragrance of chaste disposition.
[014] MEANING -It has beautiful caves of clemency (jiva-daya) where dwell the lion-like ascetics who overpower the deer-like antagonists. The metals of reason and theme add to its splendor. It abounds in herbs of twenty eight 'types of Labdhi (special skills, attainments or powers). There are caverns of discourse halls scattered around it.
[015] MEANING -Pure streams of Samvar (to stop the inflow of karmas by controlling the desires) flow here. Pea-cock like shravaks dance here in ecstasy and sing hymns of five ultimate benefactors every moment. Echo of these musical sounds emanate from the caverns of discourse halls.
[016] MEANING -The cliffs of the sangh-mountain are resplendent with the sparks of glory of the self-effacing ascetics who effuse with the virtue of humbleness. It is beautified by the wish-fulfilling trees that are the ascetics having basic and auxiliary attributes of asceticism. These trees are loaded with flowers and fruits of religious conduct (humbleness, forgiveness etc.). Jungle like clusters of these trees that are ascetics have become places of shelter for masses.
[017] MEANING - The best of the gems, the right knowledge, appears like its highest peak made up of cat's-eye. I offer my humble obeisance to such Mahamandar mountain like sangh.
COMMENTARY This is a PRAISE of the Shri sangh or the religious organization giving it the metaphor of the great Meru Mountain (mythical). The details about this mountain as given in the scriptures are - It is located at the center of the Jambudvipa. It is one thousand Yojan (a linear measure) deep in the earth and ninety nine thousand Yojan high. Its girth has a diameter of ten thousand yojans. It has four large and beautiful forests (ET) - (1) Bhadrashal forest (it is at the ground Aagam- 44 -NandiSootra
Compiled by- Deepratnasagar