Prashamratiprakaran

Author(s): Umaswati, Umaswami, Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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inevitably lead to a vision in which individual realises his own pure, perfect, blissful self-luminous Ātman. It teaches that if deliverance is to be achieved, certain moral codes are to be followed and it requires firm faith in the Jinavacana, knowledge of Jaina doctrines and Right conduct.
This work has a significant title which substantially indicates the main theme of the subject-matter. The author himself explains the term 'Pragama' occuring in the title of the present work as a synonym of vairāgya-non-attachment. It mainly deals with cause of bondage in mundane life and process of attaining absolutely an un-perturbed state of spiritual calmness through complete non-attachmet to wordly objects.
Though the central topic is vairāgya, there is scope for side-topics which are subordinate, complementary to ceniral topic. This is not a philosophical treatise, but the learned author steeped in Jaina doctrines has stuffed this work with manifold details, whereby this work has become a varitable compendium of Jainism. He deals with these philosophical topics like a moralist poet. Nowehere does the author try to show his profound scholarship and throughout the work he takes the reader into his confidence and sincerely preaches in a homely manner without entering into the dry field of Logical argumentation. The nature of the work is such that, the author never feels the necessity of logical defence of the principles that he is enunciating. The exposition of the subject matter is very systematic and some times he takes recourse to similies to make his teaching effective.
His style is very simple, but the current of his expression is very forceful. His explaination of Jaina philosophical and ethical conceptions in simple terms is a special feature of this work. He handles the Jaina teachnical terms and conceptions in a natural and easy manner. Some of the important doctrines of Jainism such as, substance, soul, syadvada, house-holders duties etc., are so precisely told that, the reader feels that many verses are really sūtras pregnant with significance. The subject-matter is discussed with such a remarkable dignity, in suitable Aryā metre, in lucid and simple manner, that this composition is enough to commemorate the poetic talents of Umāsvāti. The speciality of this work of the learned author is that, the verses are precisely worded; throughout the work, there is an ease about discussions, simplicity in style, direct appealing nature, spontaneous outcome of thought which are possible only from an author who has tasted the nectar of direct spiritual experience. This work is undoubtedly, an outstanding contribution to Jaina philosophy and Religion.