Samayasāra
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| Author | Kundakunda |
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| Language | Prakrit |
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Samayasāra (The Nature of the Self) is a famous Jain text by Acharya Kundakunda. Its ten chapters discuss the nature of jiva (Ātman/pure self/soul), its attachment to Karma and Moksha (liberation). Acharya Kundakunda says that self is soul, not the body. He describes about Ratnatraya (Samyak Darshan, Samyak Gyan, Samyak Charitra). He descripes the path to liberation using a classic example of boat. In that example, a boat treads on water and due to a hole starts sinking as water gets in. This explains the soul (boat) getting impure with entry of Karma (water). He suggests five stages of saving the boat (achieving liberation), i.e., Asrava, Bandha, Samvara, Nirjara and Moksha.
Contents
Invocation
The first verse (aphorism) of the Samayasāra is an invocation:
O bhavyas (potential aspirants to liberation)! Making obeisance to all the Siddhas, established in the fifth state of existence that is eternal, immutable, and incomparable (perfection par excellence), I will articulate this Samayaprābhrita, which has been propounded by the all-knowing Masters of Scripture.[1]
The Soul
The real self is only that soul which has achieved ratnatraya i.e. Samyak Darshan, Samyak Gyan and Samyak Charitra. These state when soul achieves purity is Arihant and Siddha.[2] It can be achieved by victory over five senses.
Stoppage of Karmas
Shedding of Karmas
The Liberation
Commentaries
It has a number of commentaries on it including Atmakhyati of Acharya Amritchandra and Natak Samayasar of Banarasidas.
Notes
References
- Vishuddhasagar, Acharya (2014), Samay Deshna (PDF)
- Jain, Vijay K. (2012), Acharya Kundkund's Samayasara, Vikalp Printers, ISBN 978-81-903639-3-8
- Chakravarti, Prof. A. (2008), Acharya Kundkund's Samayasara, Bhartiya Jnanpith, ISBN 978-81-263-1557-4
- Johnson, W. J. (1995), Harmless Souls: Karmic Bondage and Religious Change in Early Jainism with Special Reference to Umāsvāti and Kundakunda, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., ISBN 81-208-1309-X
- Kundakunda, Acharya (1950), SAMAYA SARA OR THE NATURE OF THE SELF, BHARATIYA JNANAPITHA, KASHI DURGAKUND ROAD, BANARAS
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