Gaina Sûtras, Part II

Introduction: Reviews modern scholarship on Jainism, discusses Mahāvīra and the early Nigaṇṭhas, compares Jain doctrines with Buddhist records, examines Pārśva’s older tradition, and explains the historical significance of the two translated texts. Uttarâdhyayana Sûtra: Contains thirty-six lectures on Jain monastic life and doctrine. Main themes include discipline, endurance of troubles, the rarity of human birth and right faith, impurity, voluntary death, false asceticism, renunciation, self-control, the superiority of monastic life, chastity, right sacrifice, correct behaviour, the road to liberation, penance, karma, carelessness, the houseless monk, and the nature of living and non-living beings. Lectures 1–10: Treat monastic discipline, hardship, human birth, impurity, death with and against one’s will, false asceticism, the parable of the ram, Kapila’s verses, King Nami’s renunciation, and Mahāvīra’s sermon on impermanence. Lectures 11–23: Discuss the learned monk, Harikeśa, Citra and Sambhūta, Ishukara, the true monk, chastity, bad monks, King Sañjaya, hells, duties of the Nirgranthas, Samudrapāla, Rathanemi, and the reconciliation between the followers of Pārśva and Mahāvīra through Keśin and Gautama. Lectures 24–36: Present the Samitis and Guptis, true sacrifice, correct daily behaviour, bad pupils, the path to liberation, exertion in righteousness, external and internal austerities, Jain doctrinal classifications, causes of carelessness, karma, leśyā, the houseless monk, and living and non-living beings. Sûtrakṛtâṅga Sûtra — First Book: Contains sixteen lectures. It refutes heretical doctrines, explains the destruction of karma, describes troubles faced by monks, warns against women and sensuality, describes hells, praises Mahāvīra, condemns violence and false ritualism, and defines the path, creed, truth, and virtues of the Nirgrantha monk. Sûtrakṛtâṅga Sûtra — Second Book: Contains seven lectures. It includes the parable of the lotus, analysis of activity and sin, knowledge of food and living beings, renunciation of activity, freedom from error, Ardraka’s disputations with rival teachers, and the conversion narrative at Nālandā.