Dravya Sangraha

Author(s): Nemichandramuni
Publisher: Chandraprabha Digambar Jain Mandir Trust

Page 97

Trilokesara, Kshapanasara, is the writer of this book. But recent studies (1) and researches have proved that Nemichandra 'Siddhantideva' is the real author of 'Dravya Sangraha'. Nemichandra Sidhantideva was the disciple of Muni Nayanandi and was the 'Guru' (Preceptor) of Muni VasunandiSiddhantideva. Moreover the Sanskrit commentary of 'Brahamadeva'on this work has helped in establishing the period of Nemichandra Siddhantideva. He lived in the period of King Bhoj's rule and wrote this book nearly in V. S. 1125 i.e. the ending period of 11th Century A.D. The commentary lines are:
'अथ मालवदेशे धारानामनगराधिपतिराज भोजदेवाभिधान कलिकालचक्रवर्तिसम्बधिनः श्रीपालमण्डलेश्वरस्य सम्बन्धिन्याश्रमनाम नगरे श्रीमुनिसुव्रत तीर्थंकर चैत्यालये शुद्धात्मद्रव्यसंवित्ति समुप्तन्न सुखामृत रसास्वाद विपरीत नरकादि दुःखभयभीतस्य परमात्मभावोत्पन्न सुखसुधारसपिपासितस्य भेदाभेदरत्नत्रय भावनाप्रियस्य भव्यवर पुण्डरीकस्य भाण्डागाद्यनेक नियोगाधिकारि सोमाभिधान राजश्रेष्ठिनो निमित्तं श्री नेमिचन्द्रसिद्धान्तिदेवैः पूर्वं षड्विंश गाथाभिर्लघु द्रव्यसंग्रहं कृत्वा पश्चााद्विशेषतत्त्व परिज्ञानार्थं विरचितस्य बृहद् द्रव्यसंग्रहस्यायिकार 'शुद्धि पूर्वकत्वेन वृत्तिः प्रारभ्यते।”
Namichandra Siddhantideva first wrote Laghu Dravya-Sangraha containing 26 verses only; but later on for the sake of having more specific knowledge he wrote "Brihad Dravya Sangraha" comprising of 58 verses. On comparing these verses with the verses of Panchastikaya of Kundkund Acharya, it appears that Nemichandra Siddhantideva has followed ths style of Panchastikaya. Thus this work can be said as an abridged form of Panchastikaya.
The various philosophical discoveries made by the great Jain Seekers, & thinkers of the past are of immense value to the modern world of scientific age. Jainisim is said to be the first and the last university of Ahinsa (non-violence and passionlessness). Fraternity for all beings is the noblest motto of human-life. So non-violence must be realised and practised for our very survival. The theory of relativity as now discovered by the great scientist Albert Eienstin has already been existing there in Jainism as an eternal truth in the form of the 'Theory of Anekantvad & Syadvad'. The multifarious (Anekant) nature of the soul and non-soul substances can only be understood and described properly through the principle of conditional predication, i.e. 'Syadvad' or relative statement with reference to different view-points. This is the syst ematic and synthetic approach to comprehend the 'Complexity of Reality.
1. Tirthankar Mahaveera and his Acharya Parampara, Vol. 2 P. 439-441 by Lt. Pt. Nemichandra Shastri, Jyotishaacharya.