Part 5.2 - Twelve additional Upangas

[Full title: Jain scriptures (2): Twelve Upangas]

Apart from 12 Angas as mentioned above, there are 12 Upangas as under:

1. Aupapaatita:

The original name is “Uvvai” and isbased on and upanga of Acharanga sutra. It has 2100 slokas. It describes twelve types of external and internal Tapas, four types of Dhyanas, geographical details of Earth and Siddhas. It also has interesting details of Moksa, the place for liberated souls and story of Akhanda tapas with his 700 disciples.

2. Rayprashniya:

The original name is “Rau paseniya”. The scripture is upanga of Krutatha sutra and is full of material, related to dramatics, description of the township, dev-vimans, idols etc. It includes description of 108 Jin-idols, 32 plays as Suryabhdev, answers by Lord Mahavira to six questions on Nastikvad.

3. Jivajivabhigama:

This scripture is upanga of Sthananga sutra and has 4750 slokas which include informations about jiva and ajiva, Jin-puja, Jambu Dwip, Lavan Dwip, islands, oceans, Sun, Moon, stars–all three lokas in the form of questions-answers.

4. Prajnapana:

This scripture is the biggest upanga, a treasure of gems. It is upanga of Samvayanga sutra. The original name of this Upanga is “Pannavana Sutra”. It has 7787 slokas and is based on Samvayangasutra composed by Shyamacarya, a disciple of Umaswati. It includes discussion on Karma, nine tattvas, asrav, samvar, nirjara, moksha, forms of lesya and all principles of Jainism.

5. Surya Prajnapti:

Surya Prajnapti is also called “Sur pannati” is upanga of Bhagvati sutra. It has 2200 slokas. It deals with Astronomy (information on Sun, Moon, planets, galaxies and their movements) and details of cycles of day-night and seasons. It is also called as Astrology of Jainism.

6. Jambudvip Prajnapti

Jambudvip Prajnapti (based on Shree Gnta Dharm Kathang Sutra): It is related to Geography. The seven divisions of this sutra with 4146 slokas deal as under:

1^st. Bharat Kshetra (Indian Sub continents) 2^nd. Kalachakra (The Time Wheel)

3^rd. The great emperor Bharat Chakravarti

4^th. Chullahimavant: The Varsh Dhar Mountains and area between Ramyak Kshetra to Airavat Kshetra

5^th. Jinjanmabhisheka describes the birth celebration of Lord Tirthankaras. (Janmakalyanaka)

6^th. Jambudvip Gatpadartha sangraha describes 29 subjects including the areas, i.e. Mountains, Pilgrim, Places, series in Jambudvip.

7^th. Jyitishka describes the Astronomy

Besides this great Sutra discusses on a topic of mathematics one of the four great Anuyog–worthy topics.

7. Chandra Prajnapti:

Prakrut name of this upanga is Chandapannatti sutra based on Upasaka dasanga sutra. It is similar to Surya Prajnapati having same 2200 slokas except the Moon inplace of Sun. The movements, growth and contraction of moon, its relation with the Galaxy are the subjects detailed in it.

8. Nirayayaliya:

Nirayayaliya is upanga of Antakrut dashanga sutra. It describes the war between king Konik and king Cheda, where 800million people were killed. They all went to infernal loka (narak gati). Nirya valika sutra is a collection of five Upanga sutra and stories of king Shrenik’s ten princes.

9. Kalpavratsika

Kalpavratsika or kalpavatansika or Kappavandasiya sutra is based on Anittaraupapatik sutra. Stories of sons and grandson’s of king Shrenik and ten princes are detailed here.

10. Pushpikasutra

Pushpikasutra is based on Nirchavilaka and is upanga of shri prashna vyakarana sutra. It gives information of planets from Jyotish Shastra and stories of deities coming to Lord Mahavira.

11. Punyachulika

Punyachulika or Pushpa chulika sutra (life scatches of ten Goddesses)

12. Vrushni Dasha

Vrushni Dasha (based on Nirayavilaka, stories of ten sons of Baldev, elder brother of Krishna Vasudev)

Above referred Anga and Upanga include religion, darsana, acara (do’s and don”ts) culture, discipline, history, art, literature and basic principles.