Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti)
by K. C. Lalwani | 1973 | 185,989 words
The English translation of the Bhagavati-sutra which is the fifth Jaina Agama (canonical literature). It is a large encyclopedic work in the form of a dialogue where Mahavira replies to various question. The present form of the Sutra dates to the fifth century A.D. Abhayadeva Suri wrote a vritti (commentary) on the Bhagavati in A.D. 1071. In his J...
Chapter 2: On samudghāta
Q. 19. Bhante! How many have been stated to be the samudghātas18?
A. 19. Gautama! Samudghātas have been stated to be seven, which are, vedanā-samudghāta, etc, on which refer to section on ‘Samudghāta’' (in the Paṇṇavaṇā Sūtra). (They are all) to be stated except the chadmastha-samudghāta,...till the Vaimānikas. (Something), more or less, needs be added on kasāya-samudghāta.
Q. 20. Bhante! Does kevalī-samudghāta of high-souled monks...till lasts for an ever-extending future?
A. 20. Refer to section on ‘Samudghāta’.
Chapter two ends.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):
18. The soul is tied up with pleasure and pain, etc. When, by a conscious effort, the soul takes dormant vedanīya and other karmas to a stage of fructification and throws them out, the process is called samudghāta. A man may die either after performing a samudghāta or even before it.
Seven types of samudghātas have been stated as follows:
- vedanā samudghāta of vedanīya karma,
- kaṣāya samudghāta of mohanīya karma,
- māraṇāntika samudghāta of āyu karma,
- vaikriya samudghāta of the fluid body,
- taijas samudghāta of the caloric body,
- āhāraka samudghāta of the assimilative body,
- kevalī samudghāta of vedanīya karma, name and line.
The first three take place in case of earth-bodies, water-bodies, fire-bodies and flora-bodies, two-organ beings, three-organ beings and four-organ beings. The first four are relevant of the air-bodies and the infernal beings. The first five are relevant of the celestial beings and the five-organ animals. Human beings alone have all the seven, of which ordinary beings with lapse have six and the last one is relevant only of the omniscient beings.