Jaina Karmaology

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

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Jaina Karmology
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essence of the aphorisms and elaborating scholastically for the world of philosophers who have high appreciation for them. They were composed during their periods between 720-840 A.D. They are entitled as Vārtikas (semi-aphorismic or versified explanatories) in contrast to the other short or long prose-based commentaries. The term “Vārtika' is defined by lexicographers as a type of Explanatory which elaborates (i) what is said (ii) what is left unsaid (iii) what is imperfectly, difficultly or dormantly said and (iv) supplies the omissions. Both these commentaries satisfy these criteria excellently to be called by this name. Of course, the Akalanka explanatory is in a semi-aphorismic (most of its semi-aphorisms are the important sentences of SS) prose form while Vidyanand's semi-aphorisms are in the versified form. Both have elucidatory autocommentary on them.
Royal Semi-aphorismic Explanatory of Akalanka : Rājvārtika
Out of the commentaries Nos. 2, 3 and 4, the Akalanka's commentary named 'Tattvartha Vārtika' or popularly called as “Tattvā rtha Raj-Vārtika' or simply 'Rajvārtika' (Royal Semi-aphorismic Explanatory on Reals) has an intermediate position. It is also called 'Tattvärtha-Vārtika-Vyakhyanālankāra' because of its elucidative autocommentary. It draws its base from No. 2 and gives base to No. 4. Just as the basic text ‘Tattvärtha-Sūtra' was composed during the period of aphorismic sacred texts, "Räjvārtika' was also composed during the period of Vārtika-type texts illustrated by (i) Nyāya-Vārtika (Udyotakara, 550-650), (ii) Pramāņa Vārtika (Dharmakirti, 7th century and (iii) Mimansa - Sloka - Vārtika (Kumarila, 750-800). Akalanka followed the Udyotkara tradition for his Vartikas (prose-form) which are simple as well as exhaustive. This commentary is a highly advanced text involving the complexity of language due to logical base, refutation of related concepts of alien philosophical systems, grammatical maturity and excellent show of keen observation power of natural phenomena in comparison to much simpler SS and TSB. This single text alone is sufficient to learn the Jaina concepts and thoughts. In fact, this royal commentary seems to be an original work for its treatment and methodology.