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BOOK REVIEW
VIYAHAPANNATTISUTTAM, Part III, ed. by Pandit Bechardas J. Doshi, Shri Mahavira Jaina Vidyalaya, Bombay, 1982. Pages 46+1071-1577. Price Rs. 50.00.
The book under review contains from Sataka 26 to 41 of the Prakrit text of Viyahapannatti, popularly known as the Bhagavati Sutra, as edited by Pt. Bechardas J. Doshi. Besides text and introduction it contains 4 Appendices on gāhās in alphabetical order, words, proper names and "variants pertaining to the text" for the whole Sutra.
PANCASTIKAYASARA by Kundakundacarya, Prakrit Text, Sanskrit
version, English Commentary and a historical and a philosophical introductions by A. Chakravarti Nayanar and Pañcāstikāya Sangraha with Tattvapradipika by Srimad Amritacandra with a Preface by A. N. Upaydhe, Bharatiya Jnanpith, New Delhi, 1974. Pages 12+ixvii+210. Price Rs. 30.00.
In a religion where a creator God is overlooked, the 'reals' must of necessity consist of the visible objects in the universe which exist. This in fact is the meaning of the term astikāya, 'things that be' or Sat, which are five in number, soul and non-soul, aids to motion and rest, and space, written by a famous Acarya in the Jaina Order who lived in the early years of the Christian era. In a sense a discussion on the astikāyas provides the core of Jaina philosophy in most realistic terms, devoid of abstractions. The central piece is the soul which because of the impact of karma, is wrapped up in non-soul, having motion and rest from one type of existence to another in the vast continuum of space and time. It is the liberation of the soul from the clutches of karmic matter which is the desideration of Jaina philosophy and Jaina practice. Liberation does not bring about an obliteration to the soul, nor does it go out of space, but ceases to be reborn and is lodged eternally at the crest of space wherefrom there is no descent. Short of practice, the text covers the whole range of Jaina philosophy written by a spiritual leader who is considered by many next only to Mahavira and Gautama.
The English translation of the text and commentary also in English by Chakravarti Nayanar are competent. Apart from a historical introduction on Acarya Kundakunda and also a philosophical introduction, Prof. Chakravarti has added brief notes on Jaina logic, nayas or
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