Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
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B.6.0.g
Tattvārtha-sūtra Dr. Veer Sagar Jain
1.0 Introduction Tattvārtha-sūtra is a very important text of Jaina religion. It has covered all the aspects of Jaina philosophy and is the source to other literary works as it has seeds of all the topics. Jainism is divided into many sects and sub-sects since ancient days, but all the sects accept Tattvārtha-sūtra faithfully. None have doubted its authenticity. Like Namokāra-mantra, Tattvārtha-sūtra is accepted by all faithfully. There is no other text like Tattvārtha-sūtra, which is accepted by all. This is the first Jain religious text written in Sanskrit as earlier texts were all written in Prakrit language. Being written in Sanskrit, and in aphorisms form, it holds a unique place in the overall Indian tradition and hence even the other Indian philosophical schools study this text.
1.1 Name There are two names: 1) Tattvārtha-sūtra and 2) Mokşa-śāstra. Even though its proper name is Tattvartha-sūtra, yet generally it is known as Mokşa-śāstra. It is known as Mokşa-śāstra because the work begins by the word mokșa and also because it has detailed expositions of mokşa and the path to attain mokşa. This is also found as the style with other texts like Bhaktāmara-stotra (Rșabhadeva-stotra) is so called because it begins with the word Bhaktāmara, Devāgamastotra (Aptamīmāṁsā) is so called because it begins with the word Devāgama.
This text is popularly known as Tattvārtha-sūtra because it explains the tattvas (basic elements) in the aphoristic style. It is necessary to know that goal of life is mokşa and hence to know it, is to know the seven tattvas. Explaining the seven tattvas, there are totally 10 chapters (adhyāyas) in this text. They are as follows:
1st-4th
6th-7th
Jīva (Sentience) Ājīva (Non-sentience) Āśrava (inflow) Bandha (bondage) Samvara-nirjarā (stoppage and efflux) Moksa (liberation)
8th
gth 10th
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
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