Preface
The
Shrutavatava granth written by Acharya Indra Nandi is a rare and extremely
important manuscript which describes the historical sequence of events for the
benefit of Jain philosophers and historians. Nowhere else in such detail the
history of Jain scriptures has been described. That is why it is one of the
most referred documents whenever the history of Jainism is discussed.
It is gratifying
to note the kind of efforts which were made in ancient times when the means for
preservation of scriptures were negligible, to ensure that the future
generations would not be deprived of the knowledge as described by Bhagwan
Mahaveer in his divine sermon. One is overwhelmed with gratitude to see the troubles
which were taken by the Munis and
Acharyas to preserve the scriptures and
pass it on. This book by Acharya Indra nandi in 10th century is one
such document which describes in detail, how the scriptures were passed on
orally as well as by writing.
On reading
it one can appreciate, how fortunate we are, to be able to access scriptures
like shatkhandagam and Kashaya Pahud; thanks to the legacy of scores of Munis
who cultivated the culture of preservation of scriptures and passing it on for
future generations.
In
consonance with the same spirit I have attempted to translate it into English
for the benefit of those who cannot read Hindi hoping it would give them some
idea of the strong roots that Jainism is adorned with. The Hindi version I have
used for translation was written by Pandit Vijaykumar Shastry and published by Anenkant
Vidwat Parishad. It has 187 gathas which would be completed in three instalments of the blog.
Shrutavatara - I
1. Myself
Indranandi, bowing to last Tirthankara Shri Vardhaman Swami, who is worshipped
by all the Devendras (Indra of the
Devas) being the Deva amongst the Devas i.e. Veetrag Deva
belonging to the tradition of benefitting the world , describe the treasure
of Shrutagyan in the form of birth and
creation of scriptures of Agam (which are originally stated by Arihantas).
2. Although
the shrutagyan in the form of bhava shruta
is beginningless and endless , but in the context of creation of
scriptures it has a generation and destruction which will be described by
myself ( Indranandi) who is identical to them ( having the nature of birth and
death.)
3. In this
Bharat Chhetra (region), two types of periods are always prevalent by the names
of Avasarpini and Utsarpini during which the height and age of Jivas keeps decreasing
or increasing.
4.
Individually the Avasarpini and Utsarpini periods are equal to 10 Koda kodi
sagar and together they are equal to 20 koda kodi sagar or One kalpa kaal.
5.
Omniscient Jinendra bhagwan has described
the divisions of kaal. As per that each of Avasarpini and Utsarpini
kaals have six divisions each. Presently Avasarpini kaal is prevalent in which
the height and age keeps reducing.
6. The first
division of Avasarpini kaal is Sushama Sushama. The second kaal is Sushama,
third is Sushama- Dushama, fourth is Dushama-Sushama, fifth is Dushama and
sixth kaal is Dushama- dushama.
Comment:
Presently Dushama period is prevalent in Bharat Kshetra.
7. The
duration of the first three kaals out of the six kaals , namely
Sushama-sushama, Sushama, Sushama-Dushama
is four koda kodi sagar, three koda kodi sagar and two koda kodi sagar
respectively.
8. The
duration of the fourth period of Avasarpini kaal i.e. Dushama-Sushama kaal is
42000 years less than one koda kodi sagar.
9. The last
but one i.e. the fifth period of Avasarpini kaal has a duration of 21000 years.
The duration of last i.e. the sixth period is also 21000 years.
10 The
height of the body during the different periods of Avasarpini kaal are six
thousand dhanush, four thousand dhanush, two thousand dhanush, five hundred
dhanush , seven hands and one hand respectively.
Comment: In
the first period the height of men is six
thousand dhanush (length of bow) or 3 kosh which gradually reduces to four
thousand dhanush or 2 kosh in second period. In third period it is limited to
two thousand dhanush or 1 kosh. In fourth period it is 500 dhanush ( one
dhanush = 4 hands).In fifth period it is just 7 hands while in sixth period it
is maximum of 1 hand (1 hand= 1 feet).
11. The age
of the people in those six periods of Avasarpini kaal are three palya, two
palya, one palya, one poorva koti years, 120 years and 20 years respectively.
Comment: One
palya is asamkhyata (innumerable) years , one poorva koti is 84lakh x 84 lakh x
10000000 years.
12. In that
Avasarpini period after the completion of the first two periods and with one
eight of third period remaining ( i.e. 1/8 palya period remaining) , the
kulkars were born who were as follows:
13-15. These
14 kulkars were as follows: (1) Pratishruti (2) Sanmati (3) Kshemankar (4)
Kshemandhar (5) Seemankar (6) Seemandhar (7) Vimalvahan (8) Chakshushman (9) Yashaswan
(10)Abhichandra (11) Chandrabha (12) Marudeva (13) Prasanjit and (14) Nabhiraj
They used to
control and administer the people with their brilliance and the people breaking
the rules were disciplined with just three words Ha ( sad ! ) Ma ( don’t do !)
and Dhik ( Shame on you !)
16. First
five kulkars from Pratishruti to Seemankar used to discipline using the word
“Ha !” alone. The next five kulkars from Seemandhar to Abhichandra used to
discipline using the words “ Ha! “ and
‘Ma!” The remaining kulkars from Chandrabha to Nabhiraj used to discipline
using all the three words “ Ha ! Ma! & Dhik!” . In addition Bharat who was
son of last kulkar Nabhiraj, used to discipline with body punishment along with
the three words. Thus during the period of kulkars the public mind was slowly
getting corrupted continuously.
17-19. The
fourteen kulkars removed the fear of the people ignorant about the changes from
the end of Bhog Bhumi to the beginning of Karma Bhumi in the following manner
and administered them:
(1)
Pratishruti Kulkar explained them about the rising and setting of sun and moon
etc.
(2) Sanmati
kulkar explained them about the movements of sun, moon and the stars.
(3)
Kshemankar kulkar explained them about the naturally generated cruelty etc. in
the animals at that time and the method of protecting themselves from it.
(4)
Kshemandhar Kulkar protected those cruel animals by separating them from the
human society.
(5)
Seemankar kulkar controlled the conflicts arising out of reduction of kalpa
Vrikshas ( trees providing whatever desired) by organizing people in groups
using a certain number of trees.
(6)
Seemandhar Kulkar explained them to respect each other’s territory so as to
avoid conflicts.
(7)
Vimalvahan kulkar taught them about
riding the horses, elephants etc. animals.
(8)
Chakshushman kulkar taught them about
not fearing from seeing their own offspring.
(9)
Yashaswan kulkar preached them to be
happy after seeing the faces of their children.
(10)
Abhichandra kulkar taught them to be happy on seeing the playfulness of the
children and coached them to call the children by names etc.
(11)
Chandrabh kulkar taught them to live with their children like a family while
they themselves are alive.
(12) Marudeva
Kulkar taught them to work for livelihood and methods for crossing the river
using boat etc.
(13)
Prasanjit kulkar taught them the methods for cleansing the body of the newborn
and how to win over the enemies.
(14)
Nabhiraj kulkar (father of Tirthankar Rishabh Deva ) taught them of the method
of cutting the stem of the new born. He also preached them not to be surprised
and afraid of the clouds gathering in
the sky.
20-21.
Subsequently a son named Rishabh was born to the last Kulkar King Nabhiraj and
his queen Marudevi giving them immense pleasure. He was the first of the Tirthankaras. He propagated the
proper Dharma Teerth in the Bharat Kshetra and attained Nirvana. After him the
sruta gyan (as propounded by him) continued in uninterrupted form for a period
of 50 lakh Crore Sagar.
22.
Subsequently after Adinath Vrishabh Jinendra , Ajit Nath was born as second
Tirthankara, who also preached the same Tatvas (elements) as Vrishabh Jinendra
and passed on the complete Agam sruta gyan to his disciples properly and attained
Nirvana in the same way as Vrishabh Jinendra.
23-24. In this manner from Ajitnath the second Tirthankara to Chandaprabhu bhagwan the eigth Tirthankara , for periods of 30 lakh crore sagar, 10 lakh crore sagar, 9 lakh crore sagar, 90 thousand crore sagar, 9000 crore sagar, 900 crore sagar, 90 crore sagar respectively the sruta gyan was continuously present till 9th Thirthankara Pushpadant.
After passage
of time of 50 lakh crore sagar of first
Tirthankara Bhagwan Adinath Rishabh Deva, Ajit Nath was the second Tirthankara.
On
completion of 30 lakh crore sagar after Ajit Nath Tirthankara, Sambhav Nath was
the third Tirthankara.
After
another 10 lakh crore sagar , Abhinandan Nath was the fourth Tirthankar.
Upon passage
of 9 lakh crore sagar Sumati Nath was the fifth Tirthankar.
After 90
thousand crore sagar Padma Prabha was the sixth Tirthankar.
Upon passage
of 9000 crore sagar Suparshwa Nath was the seventh Tirthankar.
900 crore
sagar after Suparshwa Nath Tirthankar, Chanda Prabh was the eight Tirthankar.
90 crore
sagar after Chanda Prabh , Pushpadant was the ninth Tirthankar.
From Sambhav
Nath Tirthankar to Pushpadant Tirthankar the sruta gyan was present
continuously uninterrupted.
25.
Subsequently after a period of one quarter of a Palyopam less than 9 crore
sagar after Tirthankar Pushpadant , the continuity of sruta gyan as propounded
by his divine sermon was severed.
26. After a
break of one quarter of Palypopam period for the Teerth, the tenth Tirthankar
Sheetal Nath was born who rekindled the Sruta gyan with his divine sermon.
27-28. The
heritage of the dharma continues uninterrupted during the teerth of 10th
Tirthankar SheetalNath for a period of 100 sagar, half palya and 6625000 years less than One crore sagar. For
last half palya there was a break in sruta gyan after which 11th
Tirthankar Shreyans Nath was born.
29. The
dharma propounded by 11th Tirthankar Shreyans Nath continued for a
period of ¾ palya less than 54 sagar when it got severed.
30. After a
gap of ¾ palya 12th Tirthankar Vaasu Pujya was born who continued
the tradition of teerth and attained moksha.
31-32. After
completion of ¾ palya less than 30 sagar of Tirthankar Vaasu Pujya, the dharma
was discontinued for a period of ¾
palya. It was continued by 13th Tirthankar Vimal Nath for a period
of ¾ palya less than 9 sagar when it got
discontinued. It was continued by 14th Tirthankar Anant Nath for a period
of ½ palya less than 4 sagar before getting interrupted. It was continued by 15th
Tirthankar Dharma Nath for a period of ¾ palya less than 3 sagar when it gor
interrupted for a period of ¼ palya.
33.
Subsequently 16th Tirthankar Shanti Nath was born and continued the
tradition of dharma and attained Moksha.
Continued……...
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