ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 320

Chapter Title
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root. Thus Uttaradhyayana-sūtra is an mulasūtra for the fundamentals of Jaina beliefs and practices are discussed, it is the original revelation of Lord Mahāvīra and its study is a prerequisite for the study of the Jaina canonical literature. The Uttaradhyayana-sutra is written in Uttaradhyayana-sūtra style in which the words are less but the meanings they convey are comprehensive and in-depth. Uttara + Adhyayana, Uttara means answers or excellent or last and adhyayana means study or lessons. Thus Uttaradhyayana means the lessons revealed later or last, some chapters are in question and answer style and it also means excellent lessons. Tradition reveals that it is the last sermon of Lord Mahāvīra discoursed at Pāvāpuri, Bihar. It is in Ardhamāgadhi and it is partly in prose, mostly in poetry and some chapters are a mixture of both. The language of Acaranga and Sutrakṛtāriga is comparatively archaic and so is that of Uttaradhyayana. It is a representative work of 600 B.C to 400 A.D. The subject matter of all the four Anuyogas, Carananuyoga- ethics, Dharmakathanuyoga-stories, Ganitanuyoga- calculations and Dravyanuyoga metaphysics are spread throughout Uttaradhyayana-sutra.
Vinaya
Parísaha
Commentary Literature
Of all the agamas the Uttaradhyayana-sutra is the most popular work and widely commented upon. After the Tattvärtha-sutra we find so many publications of the Uttarādhyayana-sūtra and it is because of the contents, parables, illustrations, simple narrative style and the indepth analysis of the topics discussed. We have its Niryukti by Bhadrabahu II, a Cürni by Gopalika Mahattara Sisya, Brhadvrtti by Vadībetāla Santisūri, Sukhabodha-tikā by Nemicandra Sūri and around a dozen other commentaries.3 A glance at the 36 chapters of the Uttaradhyayana-sūtra gives us an idea of the variety of the contents.
Chapterisation of Uttaradhyayana-sūtra
Caturangiya
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2 An Introduction to Uttarajjhayana by R.P. Poddar
3 Uttarajjhayanāṇi - Introduction by Mahaprajna, p.4
Subject
Discipline
Afflictions
SCHOOL
4 Essentials
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