Shrut Skandh Rachana

Dravya Shruta: A Brief Overview

A Brief Overview

Knowledge (Jñāna)

The distinctive attribute of the soul is knowledge—or simply the capacity to know is itself knowledge.

Eight Types of Knowledge

  1. Kevalajñāna - Omniscience
  2. Manaḥparyaya Jñāna - Telepathic knowledge
  3. Avadhi Jñāna - Clairvoyant knowledge
  4. Vibhaṅga Jñāna (Ku-Avadhi) - Distorted clairvoyance
  5. Śrutajñāna - Scriptural knowledge
  6. Kuśrutajñāna - False scriptural knowledge
  7. Matijñāna - Sensory-based knowledge
  8. Kumatijñāna - False sensory knowledge

Shrut Jnana

  • From avagraha to dharana, the knowledge of other meanings arising from the meanings known through mati jnana is called shrut jnana.
  • It is the knowledge that indirectly reveals all substances in multifaceted forms.
  • Knowledge free from doubt, misapprehension, etc., is called shrut jnana.
  • Shrut jnana arises subsequent to mati jnana.
  • For the realization of the soul, mati and shrut jnana are essential causes.

Types of Shrutajñāna: Dravya-Shruta and Bhava-Shruta

Dravya-Shruta and Bhava-Shruta

Dravya-Shruta

Dravya-Shruta refers to the textual corpus comprising:

  • The 12 Angas (primary canonical texts)
  • The 14 Pūrvas (pre-canonical texts)
  • And the 14 Prakīrṇakas (miscellaneous texts)

Bhava-Shruta

Bhava-Shruta is the pure, experiential knowledge that arises through the medium of Dravya-Shruta. It is internal, untainted, and self-realized.

Subtypes of Dravya-Shruta

  1. Anga-Praviṣṭa (Canonical)
    • Includes the 12 Angas, such as Ācārāṅga, Sūtrakṛtāṅga, Sthānāṅga, etc.
    • These texts are considered direct revelations received by Gaṇadharas (chief disciples) from the Omkāra sound of the Tīrthaṅkara in the Samavasaraṇa (divine preaching assembly).
  2. Anga-Bāhya (Non-Canonical)
    • Comprises concise texts composed by the disciples and sub-disciples of Gaṇadharas.
    • Intended for beings with limited lifespan and intellect, these texts are based on the Angas but are simplified for easier understanding.

Definition of Anga

  • That which encompasses or reveals all substances (dravya) and modes (paryāya) across the three times (past, present, future) is called Anga.
  • Alternatively, the components of the entire Shruta corpus, including its ethical and doctrinal elements, are termed Anga.

Origin of the 12 Angas

  • When the Tīrthaṅkara delivers the Omkāra sound in the Samavasaraṇa, the Gaṇadharas, endowed with exceptional intellect (buddhi) and spiritual powers (ṛddhi), receive and interpret this divine sound.
  • Within an Antarmuhūrta (less than 48 minutes), they manifest the 12 Angas as Dravya-Shruta.

Letters (Akṣara) in Shrutajñāna

  • Each letter corresponds to a unit of Shrutajñāna.
  • Classification of letters:
    • Short vowels (Hṛsva) - 1 mātrā
    • Long vowels (Dīrgha) - 2 mātrās
    • Prolonged vowels (Pluta) - 3 mātrās
    • Consonants (Vyañjana) - ½ mātrā
  • Breakdown:
    • Consonants: 33
    • Vowels: 9 (including Hṛsva, Dīrgha, Pluta)
    • Special signs (Ayogavāha): 4 (e.g., ṃ, ḥ, etc.)
    • Total: 64 letters

Establishment of 64 Letters

अ आ आइ, इ ई, ई3, उ ऊ ऊ3, ऋ ऋ ऋ3, लृ लृ लृ3, ए ए2 ए3, ओ ओर ओ3, औ और औ3,

क ख ग घ ङ च छ ज झ ञ ट ठ ड ढ ण त थ द ध न प फ ब भ म य र ल व श ष स ह x क x प अं. अ:

When these 64 letters are combined in all possible ways (excluding one combination), the total number of syllabic combinations or compound letters is: 18,446,744,073,709,551,615

Pad (Word Unit)

The minimal knowledge that arises from a single letter is called Akshara Shrutajñāna (letter-based scriptural knowledge). When another letter is added to the first, the resulting compound is known as Akshara Samāsa Shrutajñāna (compound-letter scriptural knowledge). By successively adding letters, up to a countable number, the compound remains Akshara Samāsa Shrutajñāna. When these countable letters combine, they form a Pad (word), which is a distinct form of Shrutajñāna. There are three types of Pads:

  1. Artha Pad - Semantic word
  2. Pramāṇa Pad - Quantitative word
  3. Madhyama Pad - Intermediate word

Pad and Letters

When meaning is derived from a single letter, it is called an Artha Pad (semantic word). When meaning is derived from eight letters, it is called a Pramāṇa Pad (Quantitative word). And when meaning is derived from 16, 34, 83, 07, 888 letters, it is called a Madhyama Pad (intermediate word).

By counting one verse of eight letters, the number of verses in a Madhyama Pad becomes 51,08,84,621 + 9/2. By dividing the total number of letters in the entire Dravya Shruta by the Madhyama Pad, we get 112,83,58,005 Pads. These are the total Pads of the twelve Angas (Anga-Praviṣṭa). After that, 8,01,08,175 letters remain. This is the Anga-Bāhya Shruta.

The classification, subject matter, and number of Pads of Anga-Praviṣṭa Shruta, and the classification and subject matter of Anga-Bāhya Shruta, are described in the following table.

Dravya Shruta is divided into two categories:

  1. Anga-Praviṣṭa
  2. Anga-Bāhya

The Anga-Praviṣṭa Shruta consists of twelve divisions, collectively known as the Dvādaśāṅgī (Twelve Angas).

Dravya Shrut

Anga-Praviṣṭa

Anga-Bāhya Shruta

Twelve Angas Fourteen Prakīrṇakas
1. Ācārāṅga 1. Sāmāyika
2. Sūtrakṛtāṅga 2. Caturviṁśatistava
3. Sthānāṅga 3. Vandana
4. Samavāya 4. Pratikramaṇa
5. Vyākhyāprajñapti 5. Vainayika
6. Jñātṛdharmakathā 6. Kṛtikarma
7. Upāsakādhyayana 7. Daśavaikālika
8. Antakṛt Daśāṅga 8. Uttarādhyayana
9. Anuttaropapādaka 9. Kalpavyavahāra
10. Praśnavyākaraṇa 10. Kalpākalpa
11. Vipāka Sūtra 11. Mahākalpa
12. Dṛṣṭivāda 12. Puṇḍarīka
13. Mahāpuṇḍarīka
14. Niṣiddhikā / Nisitikā

The Twelve Angas – Their Subjects and Word Counts

No. Name Subject Description Word Count
1 Ācārāṅga Describes the conduct and discipline of monks. 18,000
2 Sūtrakṛtāṅga Explains humility in knowledge and the distinctions between one's own and others' doctrines. 36,000
3 Sthānāṅga Describes the enumeration and classification of substances, e.g., living beings as one type generally, two types specifically, etc. 42,000
4 Samavāya Describes the six substances (like soul, matter, etc.) in terms of substance, space, time, etc. 1,64,000
5 Vyākhyāprajñapti Contains 60,000 questions asked by Ganadharas to the Tirthankara regarding existence and non-existence of the soul. 2,28,000
6 Jñātṛdharmakathā Narrates the religious stories of Tirthankaras, nature of substances, and answers to Ganadharas’ questions. 5,56,000
7 Upāsakādhyayana Describes the conduct of householders, including the eleven stages (pratimās) of spiritual development. 11,70,000
8 Antakṛt Daśāṅga Describes ten Kevalis who attained liberation during each Tirthankara’s era. 23,28,000
9 Anuttaropapādaka Describes ten great monks per Tirthankara who endured severe hardships and were born in the highest celestial realms. 92,44,000
10 Praśnavyākaraṇa Explains methods to answer questions about past and future auspicious or inauspicious events, and includes four types of narratives: Ākṣepanī, Vikṣepanī, Saṁvedanī, Nirvedanī. 93,16,00
11 Vipāka Sūtra Describes the intensity and duration of karmic results based on substance, space, time, and intention. 1,840,000
12 Dṛṣṭivāda Discusses 363 false views: 180 Kriyāvāda, 84 Akriyāvāda, 67 Ajñānavāda, and 32 Vainayikavāda, and refutes them through five divisions:
1. Parikarma, 2. Sūtra, 3. Prathamānuyoga, 4. Pūrvagata (14 Pūrvas), and 5. Cūlikā.
1,08,68,56,005
- Total Word Count of the Twelve Angas: - 112,83,58,005
One Hundred Twelve Crore Eighty Three Lakh Fifty Eight Thousand Five

The Twelfth Anga - Dṛṣṭivāda: Its Five Divisions

The first division is Parikarma, which contains the Karaṇa Sūtras of astronomy.
It has five sub-divisions:
No. Name Subject Description Word Count
1 Chandraprajñapti Describes the movement of the moon, its phases, family, increase-decrease, and planetary aspects. 36,05,000
2 Sūryaprajñapti Describes the sun’s radiance, movement, and celestial family. 5,03,000
3 Jambūdvīpa Prajñapti Describes Jambūdvīpa, Mount Meru region, and Kulācalas. 3,25,000
4 Dvīpasāgara Prajñapti Describes the structure of island-oceans, the residences of celestial beings (Jyotiṣīs, Vyantaras, Bhavanavāsīs), and Jain temples located there. 52,36,000
5 Vyākhyāna Prajñapti Describes the measures and classifications of living and non-living substances. 84,36,000
Total Word Count of Parikarma: 1,81,05,000
One crore, eighty-one lakh, five thousand
Second Division - Sūtra
This section presents the preliminary viewpoints of 363 false doctrines (mithyādarśana) and applies them to the nature of the soul and other substances.
It contains 88,00,000 words.
Third Division - Prathamānuyoga
This section describes the sixty-three illustrious beings (śalākā puruṣas) such as the first soul to receive instruction, the Tīrthaṅkaras, and the universal monarchs (cakravartins).
It contains 5,000 words.
Fourth Division - Pūrvagata (Pre-Canonical Knowledge)
It consists of fourteen subdivisions, known as the Fourteen Pūrvas.
No. Pūrv Subject Description Vastu Adhikaar 20 Pāhuḍ in each Adhikaar/24 Anuyog Dwaar Total Number of Posts
1 Utpāda Pūrv Describes the origination, decay, and permanence of substances like soul, etc., from various doctrinal perspectives. 10 200/4800 100,00,000
2 Agrāyaṇī Pūrv Describes 700 proper and improper doctrines, six substances, seven principles, and nine categories. 14 280/6720 96,00,000
3 Vīryānuvāda Pūrv Describes the power (vīrya) of the six substances. 8 160/3840 70,00,000
4 Asti-Nāsti Pravāda Pūrv Describes existence and non-existence of substances like soul, etc., based on substance, space, time, and intention; resolves contradictions using Saptabhaṅgī logic. 18 360/8640 60,00,000
5 Jñāna Pravāda Pūrv Describes types of knowledge, their nature, number, subject, and results. 12 240/5760 99,99,999
6 Satya Pravāda Pūrv Describes various forms of speech—truthful and false. 12 240/5760 1,00,00,006
7 Ātma Pravāda Pūrv Describes the soul’s attributes like agency and enjoyership from both absolute and practical viewpoints. 16 320/7680 26,00,00,000
8 Karma Pravāda Pūrv Describes the eight karmas (e.g., knowledge-obscuring), their binding, duration, intensity, and activity. 20 400/9600 1,80,00,000
9 Pratyākhyāna Pūrv Describes various methods of renouncing sin. 30 600/14400 84,00,000
10 Vidyānuvāda Pūrv Describes 700 minor and 500 major sciences, their methods, mantras, results, and the eightfold predictive knowledge (Nimitta Jñāna). 15 300/7200 1,10,00,000
11 Kalyāṇavāda Pūrv Describes auspicious events like conception of Tīrthaṅkaras and Cakravartins, their causes (e.g., sixteen contemplations), austerities, and celestial movements. 10 200/4800 26,00,00,000
12 Prāṇavāda Pūrv Describes eight types of healing sciences, mantras to cure ailments and poisons, and techniques like Svarodaya. 10 200/4800 13,00,00,000
13 Kriyāviśāla Pūrv Describes music, prosody, rhetoric, sixty-four arts, eighty-four rituals, 108 practices including right faith, 25 daily and occasional rituals. 10 200/4800 9,00,00,000
14 Triloka Pūrv Describes the structure of the three worlds, geometry, algebra, nature of liberation, and the practices leading to it. 10 200/4800 12,50,00,000
Total 195 3900/93600 95,50,00,005
Ninety-five crore, fifty lakh, five
Fifth Division - Chūlikā It has five subdivisions.
No. Name Subject Description Word Count
1 Jalagata Chūlikā Describes rituals and mantras for controlling water, walking on water, entering fire, extinguishing fire, and consuming fire. 2,09,89,200
2 Sthalagata Chūlikā Describes rituals and mantras for entering Mount Meru or the earth, rapid movement, and related austerities. 2,09,89,200
3 Māyāgata Chūlikā Describes rituals and mantras for illusionary magic and mystical transformations. 2,09,89,200
4 Rūpagata Chūlikā Describes rituals and mantras for assuming forms like lion, elephant, horse, bull, deer, etc., and includes signs of magical wood coatings and paintings. 2,09,89,200
5 Ākāśagata Chūlikā Describes rituals and mantras for flying or traveling through the sky. 2,09,89,200
Total Word Count of Chūlikā - 10 crore, 49 lakh, 46 thousand 10,49,46,000

Total Word Count of Each Division of the Twelfth Anga – Dṛṣṭivāda

No. Division Word Count
1 Parikarma 1,81,05,000
2 Sūtra 88,00,000
3 Prathamānuyoga 5,000
4 Pūrvagata (14 Pūrvas) 95,50,00,005
5 Chūlikā 10,49,46,000
Total Word Count 108,68,56,005
One hundred eight crore, sixty-eight lakh, fifty-six thousand and five
Chart

Angabahya Sutras

No. Prakīrṇaka Subject Description
1 Sāmāyika Name, establishment, substance, space, time, contemplation, and six additional aspects.
2 Caturviṁśatistava Glory of the twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras.
3 Vandana Praise and worship of a Tīrthaṅkara through devotional verses.
4 Pratikramaṇa Seven types of repentance: daily, nightly, periodic, fortnightly, seasonal, annual, and ultimate.
5 Vainayika
  • 1. Humility through social conduct (Lokānuvṛtti Vinaya)  
  • 2. Humility due to purpose (Arthanimittaka Vinaya)
  • 3. Humility through desire control (Kāmatantra Vinaya)
  • 4. Humility through worldly awareness (Bhava Vinaya)
  • 5. Humility toward liberation (Mokṣa Vinaya)
6 Kṛtikarma Rituals of worship toward Arihants and other enlightened beings.
7 Daśavaikālika Monastic conduct and purity of food intake.
8 Uttarādhyayana Guidelines for enduring hardships and afflictions (Parīṣaha and Upasarga).
9 Kalpavyavahāra Atonement for improper conduct and consumption by monks.
10 Kalpākalpa Description of suitable and unsuitable substances, space, time, and intentions for monks.
11 Mahākalpa Practices of Jinkalpi monks including Pratimāyoga, Trikālayoga, and activities of Sthavirakalpi monks.
12 Puṇḍarīka Causes for birth among four types of celestial beings.
13 Mahāpuṇḍarīka Causes for birth among highly radiant celestial beings like Indra.
14 Niṣiddhikā / Nisitikā Prescriptions for atonement based on various forms of purity.