Part 6 - Survey of previous research (Literature Review)

Though many principles in Patanjala Yogadarsana are inspired from Jainism and Buddhism, but term “Yoga” was having differtent meaning in Jain Agamas. Pandit Devanandi of fifth century (Samadhitantra, Istopadesa), Jinabhadra Gani of 609^A.D. (Dhyanasataka) followed by Yogendudeva of 7^th century (Yogasara, Paramatmaprakasa) and Acarya Haribhadrasuri of 8^th century (Yogabindu, Yogadrstisamuccaya, Yogavimsika, Yogasatakand and many other books) were the initial scholars to get inspired by Patanjali’s work on Yoga and hence included many Yogic practices in Jain scriptures written by them. They formed many meditative techniques where Yogic poses and Pranayamic practices were mentioned. Acarya Hemacandrasuri (11^th century) wrote “Yogasastra’ including astangayoga, nadi, japa and mantrayoga. Yasovijayji (17^th century) wrote Patanjala Yogasutravrtti among his 108 books. In the later era, Muni Nathmal (20^th century) wrote Jain Yoga and Atmaramji Maharaja (1933) wrote Jain Agamo Me Ashtangayoga and Jain Yogasiddhanta Aur Sadhana. Later on Acarya Subhacandraji and Acarya Hemacandraji have contributed to Jaina Yoga with their works. All this work was inclusion of Yoga principles into Jain philosophy or blending of both. It was observed while reviewing these briefly that nowhere the comparison of spiritual practices was found exclusively.

Most of the studies undertaken afterwards in the fields of two philosophies namely, Yoga and Jainism are independent excluding each other; hence there was a need for comparative study. Going through the research work done currently in this field among available journals, books, exhibitions and various libraries at various places like Somaiya Vidyavihar Libraries, Shanti Niketan, Tithal -Dist.Valsad, Jain Museum at Palitana (both places in Gujarat have huge collection of Jain literature) and Jain Upasrayas, the only comparative studies found are recent works in Hindi done by Dr. Aruna Anand (Patanjala Yoga Evam Jain Yoga Ka Tulanatmaka Adhyayana) of Delhi in 2002, one thesis submitted to University on comparative study of Yoga, Buddhism and Jainism by Rama Dattatreya Garge of Yoga Vidhyadham, Kolhapur, 2014 and one in Gujarati by Dr. Kishor Gada (Yoga Ane Jain Sahitya) of Mumbai in 2014. All of them have tried to compare mainly the principles of the entire Yoga and Jainism philosophies but not aiming at only spiritual practices.

Prime sources:

It was a huge and the most difficult task to go through all the Jain Agamas. Hence, the lists of topics from each Agama were referred to search for spiritual practices and finally only few related Agamas like Acaranga Sutra and Avasyaka Sutra and few others were referred and studied. Most of the data are collected from these Agamas and all sutras of Tattvarthasutra, the original work of Sri Umaswati and translated by various authors. This scripture is considered as summary of all Agamas.

Secondary sources:

Few commentaries of Agama and many scriptures and books written by different scholars of both philosophies -Jainism and Yoga have been referred to here.

This documentary study has been done with “people and tools triangulation’, where the researcher has done cross checking of original scriptures with many monks, Acaryas and other tools like writings and principles of different sects of Jainism to derive common and fundamental principles. So, it includes opinions on original Agamas and prescribed spiritual practices gathered from interviews and discussion with great Jain and Yoga scholars and Professors of Jainology and Yoga experts.