Acharya Gunadhar
Biographical Introduction:
In the tradition of Jain Acharyas (spiritual teachers) who composed scriptures, the name of Acharya Gunadhar comes first. He was a distinguished scholar and intellectual of his time and a great authority on the Karma doctrine. He is renowned as the first "Shruta-Pratishthapaka" (establisher of scriptures) in the world. In the Digambara tradition, he is considered the first author of the Shruta (scriptures) in written form. Acharya Gunadhar had mastery over the fifth Purva, namely Pajjadosapahuda and Mahakamma-pathadipahuda. This means he possessed direct and special knowledge from the lineage of the Tirthankaras (enlightened beings). He had completely assimilated the knowledge of the Tirthankaras.
Acharya Virasena wrote that Acharya Gunadhar possessed exceptional intellect and understanding of the three worlds, and the scripture written by him, Kasaya-pahuda, is as vast as an ocean, with Acharya Gunadhar himself being the one who could navigate and cross that ocean.
Acharya Gunadhar is believed to have lived in the first century BCE (Before Vikrama Era).
Introduction to His Work:
Seeing the gradual decline of scriptural knowledge, and motivated by compassion for the spiritual teachings, Acharya Gunadhar composed 180 Gatha-sutras (verses in aphoristic style) and an additional 53 explanatory verses to clarify the subject.
- Kasaya-pahuda (Kashayapahuda):
Acharya Gunadhar composed Kasaya-pahuda, also known as Pajjadosapahuda. This text condenses a subject matter that originally spanned 16,000 verses into just 180 core verses, supplemented by 53 explanatory verses to make the subject clear.
The term Pajj means attachment (raga), and dosa means aversion (dvesha). Hence, this scripture deals with the analysis of attachment and aversion.
The text describes various states of karmas to explain the dynamics of attachment, aversion, and delusion (moha). The main theme of the text is the analysis of how anger, pride, deceit, and greed (the four kashayas or passions) evolve from attachment and aversion.
Written in a sutra (aphoristic) style, the text initiates the tradition of expressing complex and expansive topics concisely through sutras.
The text is divided into 15 sections and contains 233 gathas (180 + 53). Each of the four main kashayas—anger, pride, deceit, and greed—is discussed in detail, including their types and subtypes, with guidance on how to avoid and overcome them.
The core message of the text is that the soul is pure, spotless, and radiant, and it should not be tainted by passions like anger. As long as the soul is entangled in these defilements, it cannot attain purity.
Special Features:
This is a special text in the Karananuyoga (doctrine of metaphysics) branch of Jain literature. It provides a profound exposition of the doctrine of karma. From the perspective of psychology, too, it is considered highly important.
Regarded as the direct voice of the Agamas and Tirthankaras, this scripture holds a highly esteemed position in Jain philosophy.