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Digambar Jain Religion Sacred Books
Ashta Pahuda (Eight Presents or Sections) by Acharya Kundkund.
The book contains a brief exposition of Jaina doctrine. It has 502 verses in eight sections dealing with Faith (Darshan), Scripture (Sutra), Conduct (Charitra), Enlightenment (Bodha), Realization or Internal Feelings, Thoughts, Dispositions
(Bhava), Emancipation or Liberation (Moksha), Insignia (Linga), and Virtue (Sheel).
Atmanushasana (Discourse to the Soul) by Acharaya Guna-Bhadra
Each and every one of the 270 verses in this work exhorts the soul to separate its own self from the non-self. This supreme separation is the complete victory of the soul over Sin, Sorrow, and Death, and is Moksha, Freedom or Liberation, absolute, perfect, eternal, and everlasting.
Barasa Anuvekkha (Twelve Contemplations) by
Acharya Kundkund.
The topics of reflections serve as potent factors leading to spiritual progress. When one is impressed by the transient nature of worldly objects and relations, one directs his attention from the outward to the inward; the attachment to the world is reduced giving place to liking for the religious life which alone can save the soul from miseries of the world and lead it on to liberation.
Bhadrabahu Samhita (Jaina Law of Inheritance and Partition) by
Bhadrabahu Svami.
This book consists of 12,000 verses is written to determine quarrels among members of the same family. Quarrels lead to passionate and hostile feelings and Jainism aims at the suppression and eradication of these, chiefly of Anger, Pride, Deceit, and Greed as they imprison the soul in matter and retard its evolution on to freedom and liberation from mundane
misery.
Chhahadhala (Six Faceted Shield to Fight the Karmas and Attain Liberation)
Written by Pandit Daulat Ram.
Dravya Samgraha (Expositions of Substances) by
Nemichandra Siddhanta Chakravarti.
It deals with both the living and non-living substances existing and comprising the universe. A person must have knowledge of substances (Dravyas) existing in this universe and only then
can he proceed to regulate his conduct accordingly. Consisting of 58 verses in five parts, the book is a brief and but exhaustive work which is very useful to the beginner in his study of Jainism.
Gommatsara Jivakanda
Compilation of the Essence of the Doctrine dealing with the Soul by Nemichandra Siddhanta
Chakravarti.
The book consisting of twenty chapters and 734 verses, it deals primarily with the soul (Jiva)
or consciousness - the natural characteristics of jivas and the means and stages of their development.
It describes the 14 spiritual stages of souls in various conditions of life
(gunasthana), 14 soul classes (jiva samasa), 6 capacities to develop (Paryapti), 10 vital forces (Prana), 4 instincts or impulses (Sangya), 14 soul quests (Margana), and 12 kinds of conscious attentiveness
(Upayoga). The classification is also often expressed as the 20 Prarupanas (expositions), which really exhaust
the standpoints from which souls in the universe may be viewed.
Gommatsara Karma Kanda Part I
Compilation of the Essence of the Doctrine dealing with the Karmas by Nemichandra Siddhanta
Chakravarti.
Gommatsara Karma Kanda Part II
By Nemichandra Siddhanta Chakravarti.
These volumes, which have 972 verses, deal with the non-living karmic matter, the attributes and modifications of the substances, the conditions in which the embodied souls are found and the rules which regulate the combination of Soul and Matter. It describes the obstacles producing
bondage of karma and the ways and means of obtaining deliverance, moksha, liberation from karmic contact.
Gyanarnava (Ocean of Knowledge) by
Acharya Shubhchandra.
Ishtopadesh (Discourse Divine) by
Acharya Pujyapad Swami.
It is a charming composition about the glorious divinity of the Inner Self, that signifies a sort of direct appeal to the experience of self-realization rather than a metaphysical study of the soul nature through the intellectual faculty.
Niyamasara (The Perfect Law) by
Acharya Kundkund.
It deals with the path of liberation, which is Right Vision, or Faith, Right Knowledge and Right
Conduct, which necessarily (niyamena) form the path of liberation.
Nyaya-Karnika (Primer of Jain Philosophy of Standpoints) by
Vinay Vijay Maharaj.
A work on logic, it means a flower which has for its pericarp, or central point, the thing to be viewed; and for its petals the various standpoints (nayas) from which it is to tbe viewed.
Nyaya-Avatara (The Earliest Jaina Work on Pure Logic) by Siddhasena
Divakar.
It is the earliest known Jaina treatise on Pure Logic, as it distinguishes logic from the cognate branches of learning.
Panchastikayasara (The Building of the Cosmos) by Acharya
Kundkund.
It is a fine exposition of Jaina metaphysics. It discusses 5 magnitudes (Astikayas), i.e. those entities that manifest through numerous qualities and modes, their existence with extensive spatial points, viz. soul (Jiva), matter (Pudgal), principles of motion and rest (Dharma and Adharma), and space (Akash). These five together with time (kal) are called
substances (dravyas), which are the constituent elements of the universe.
Parikshamukham by Manikyanandi,
It is a standard work on Jaina Nyaya philosophy and deals with Praman (valid knowledge), Anuman (inference), and fallacies. It contains 212 aphorisms divided unevenly in six sections as 13, 12, 101, 9, 3 and 74 aphorisms respectively.
Parmatma Prakash
Written by Yogindu Deva
Pravachanasara by
Acharya Kundkund.
It discusses Jaina philosophy, particularly knowledge and the object of (inauspicious,
auspicious, and pure) and the Jaina theory of omniscience. Book Two deals with substances, which are characterized by and endowed with various qualities and modifications and which are all the while coupled with origination, destruction and permanence without leaving their existential nature. It also deals with the nature of the soul and the matter and the theory of non-absolutism, viewpoints and predications. Book Three describes ascetic conduct.
Purushartha Siddhyupaya
Jaina Pravachana Rahasya-kosh by Acharya Amrit Chandra Suri.
It treats of Ahimsa (non-injury), a basic rule of conduct, in all its varying aspects. Himsa is defined as injury to the vitalities caused through want of care and caution.
Ratna-Karanda Shravakachara
(The Householder's Dharma) by Acharya Samantabhadra.
It is a systematic exposition of the duties of a pious layman. It testifies to the fact that Jainism is not only metaphysically a sound system, but also a practical way of living as well. The book is called a Casket of Gems because it is a systematic exposition of the three gems, viz. Right
Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct, which constitute the path of liberation.
Samadhi Shatak
A Century of Verses on Concentration or Self-Absorption by Acharya Pujyapad Swami.
It mainly deals with the nature of the pure Self. Emphasis is laid on the abandonment of the external self, concentration on the internal self and contemplation of the pure self. This is the correct method of meditation and of
realizing the nature of pure Self. It thus provides consolation to an afflicted mind and an inspiring vision of the divine life to a seeker after truth.
Samyasara (The Soul Essence) by
Acharya Kundkund.
It describes the pure nature of the Soul. The word Samaya is used in the sense of
Self- absorption or realisation, which is the central goal to be aimed at. It deals with the soul's Identity with Itself being the only living Conscious Reality. All Truth, Goodness, Beauty,
Reality, Morality, Freedom, is in this pure all conscious Self-absorbed
Soul, which is God. Any connection, Causal or Effectual, with the non-self is a delusion, limitation, imperfection, bondage, caused by impure thought activity or passions. To obtain Liberation or Deification, this connection
must be destroyed.
Sarvarthasiddhi by
Acharya Pujyapad Swami.
A commentary on Tattvarthasutra by Acharya Pujyapad Swami. It is the oldest extant commentary available on Tattvarthasutra, which contains the quintessence of Jain philosophy. There is no Jaina doctrine or principle left unexplained in this book.
Tattvartha Sutra (Moksha Sutra) by
Umaswami or Umasvati.
It is rightly termed and known as Jain Bible and enjoys the unique distinction of being regarded as an authoritative work by all sections of the Jains. There is no Jain doctrine or dogma, which is not expressed or implied in the 357 aphorisms (Sutras) divided into 10 chapters.
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