Samavayanga Sutra

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[edit] Introduction

The Samavayanga Sutra is the 4th amongst the 12 Angas of the Jaina canon. The sutra is believed to have been composed by Gandhara Sudharma Svami. This ancient manuscript is the holy book of the Svetambara sect. This text contains the essence of Jain religion, defined and catalogued systematically. It is believed to be written around the year 300 BC. It is a part of the collection of texts containing Lord Mahavira’s teachings, collectively termed as Agama Sutras.

[edit] Subject matter of the Agama

Samavayanga Sutra contains elements of mathematics and astronomy. One of the interesting aspects of this text is its portrayal of Monasticism and spirituality in the terms of numerology.

Mathematics - The Samavayanga Sutra seems to be in continuation of the Sthananga Sutra and follows the numeric method of describing substances from 1 to 1 billion.

Astronomy – It contains discussion on Mount Meru, the jyotishcakra, the Jambudvipa itself, the measurements used in the Jaina canon, the Jaina Loka, the different types of Earth, the 7 Hells, the increase in water levels in the Lavana ocean and like. It also gives information on the subject matter of the 14 Purva and the 12th Anga, Drstivada. Being one of the oldest and most referred texts, it forms the backbone of the Jain literature. There is a description of the life-span of the Gods in the Samavayanga Agama. There is also a mention of the days of their inhalation and exhalation. It further defines and catalogues the main substances of the Jain religion from a different perspective than the Sthananga Sutra. Furthermore, it contains references to the Damili script, an early Tamil script which is also called as Tamil-Brahmi Script by the scholars.

[edit] commentary

Sanskrit commentary has been provided by the 10th century Svetambara Acarya Abhayadeva Suri

v • d • e Jain Scriptures Fourteen Purvas (The Prior Knowledge - considered totally lost) Śvetāmbara (Canonical Texts) Angāgama Ācāranga sūtra · Sūtrakrtanga · Sthānānga · Samavāyānga · Vyākhyāprajñapti or Bhagavati sūtra · Jnātrdhārmakathāh · Upāsakadaśāh · Antakrddaaśāh · Anuttaraupapātikadaśāh · Praśnavyākaranani · Vipākaśruta · Drstivāda (Now Extinct) Upanga āgamas Aupapātika · Rājapraśnīya · Jīvājīvābhigama · Prajñāpana · Sūryaprajñapti · Jambūdvīpaprajñapti · Candraprajñapti · Nirayārvalī · Kalpāvatamsikāh · Puspikāh · Puspacūlikāh · Vrasnidaśāh Chedasūtra Ācāradaśāh · Brhatkalpa · Vyavahāra · Niśītha · Mahāniśītha · Jītakalpa Mūlasūtra Daśavaikālika · Uttarādhyayana · Āvaśyaka · Pindaniryukyti Prakīrnaka sūtra Catuhśarana · Āturapratyākhyanā · Bhaktaparijñā · Samstāraka · Tandulavaicarika · Candravedhyāka · Devendrastava · Ganividyā · Mahāpratyākhyanā · Vīrastava Cūlikasūtra Nandī-sūtra · Anuyogadvāra-sūtra Digambara Texts Āgamas Satkhandāgama · Kasāyaprabhrta Pratham -ānuyoga Padmapurāna · Harivamsapurāna · Ādipurāna · Uttarapurāna Carnānuyoga Mulācāra · Trivarnācāra · Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra Ganitānuyoga Sūryaprajñapti · Candraprajñapt · Jayadhavalātikā · Gommatasāra Dravyānuyoga Niyamasāra · Pancastikayasāra · Pravacanasāra · Samayasāra · Tattvārthasūtra (Note1) · Āptamīmamsa Commentary Commentary on Tattvarthasūtra and Aptmimamsa Tattvārthasūtra is accepted by both Digambaras and Śvetāmbara as their texts although Śvetāmbaras do not include it under canonical texts.