Jaina Karmaology

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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INTRODUCTION
Historically, culturally, philosophico-literarily, archeologically and commercially, the Jainas form a very important community in India despite its non-significant percentage (1.0%) in her population. They belong to a complete system of life style. They have their (i) torch-bearers (ii) sacred literature and (iii) worship-centers, now spread over all parts of the world. They follow the proto-historic religion of the East under strivers or ascetic tradition. Their primary literature is in a form of Prakṛta language consisting of mixture of 18 major languages and 700 dialects spoken by the general public of the times. But when Sansk ṛta came into prominence, they had their sacred literature written in this language too. A tradition of composing sacred texts in aphorismic form (aphorisms are short and concise technical sentences with deeper meaning which, generally, are not clear without a good explanatory) had developed in Indian philosophical systems during the period between early pre-Christian to early postChristian centuries. This is evidenced by the aphorismic texts of Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vedanta and Vaiseṣika systems composed during the above period. The Jainas also did follow the pattern. Their 'Tattvärtha Sutra' (Aphorismic Treatise on Reals) supposed to be composed in northern India by Umāsvāmi (-ti) is the first and most important sacred text in aphorismic Sanskṛta respected not only by all the sections of the Jainas but also by the scholars of different systems for its authenticated and systematic presentation of Jaina tenets. It seems this Jainian text is the culmination of the period of aphorismic sacred texts.
The text contains the essence of Jaina religion and philosophy in a systematic way through all of its important aspects- physical as well as spiritual- not so compositely detailed earlier. However, it aims primarily at dealing with seven spiritual reals leading the worldly living to attainment of ultimate happiness or salvation. That is why, it is also called as 'Mokṣa Sastra' (Treatise on Salvation). The 'Tattvärtha-adhigama' (Treatise on Reals) is another name for this text. Many English translators have expressed these titles in different way but the title of 'Aphorismic Treatise on Reals' is preferred here as it gives an idea about the literary nature and contents of the whole text. It