Jaina Culture

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

Page 35

JAINA CULTURE
It gives lives of some persons who after death were born as gods in the Anuttara celestial abodes.
The Praśnavyākarana consists of ten chapters. Of them, the first five deal with Asrava influx of karmic matter) and the last five give an account of Samvara (stoppage of the influx). The available contents of this work are different from those noted in the Samavāyānga and the Nandisutra.
The Vipakaśruta is divided into two sections, each having ten narratives. The first section deals with the fruits of bad deeds, whereas the second describes those of good deeds. Upangas :
The Uparigas are subsidiary to the Argas." They are also twelve in number. Their titles are as under :
(1) Aupapatika, (2) Rājapraśnīya, (3) Jivābhigama or Jfvẫjivābhigama, (4) Prajĩapany, (5) Suryaprajĩapti, (6) Jambūdvipaprajñapti, (7) Candraprajñapti, (8) Nirayāvalika or Kalpika, (9) Kalpavataṁsika, (10) Puşpikā, (11) Puş, pacūlikā, (12) Vriņidaśa.
The Aupapātika describes in full the city of Campa, King Kūpika, Queen Dhāriņi, Lord Mahavira etc. This work is of special significance from the viewpoint of these splendid descriptions, as no other canonical text contains such beautiful passages.
The Rājapraśniya describes the life of King Pradesin and his rebirth as Suryabhadeva. It contains a beautiful dialogue between King Pradesin and Preceptor Keśi regarding the identity of soul and body
The Jivābhigama or Jivājīvābhigama deals with the animate and inanimate entities. It contains a detailed description of continents aad oceans.
The Prajñāpanā consists of thirty-six chapters. Each of these chapters deals with one particular topic in its entirety These topics are pertaining to different aspects of Jaina philosophy.