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...
Part 1 - On winds
In the city of Rājagṛha,...till made the following submission:
Q. 22. Bhante! Do the following winds blow? These are: īṣat-puro-vāta or wind with mild moisture, patihya-vāta or wind which is wholesome to the flora-bodies, mild wind and fast (stormy) wind?
A. 22. Yes, they do.
Q. 23. Bhante! Do these winds moist, wholesome, mild and fast, blow in the east?
A. 23. Yes, they do. And so they do in the west, in the south, in the north, in the north-east, in the south-east, in the south-west and in the north-west.
Q. 24. Bhante! When winds moist, wholesome, mild and fast, blow in the east, do they blow in the west? And when they blow in the west, do they blow in the east?
A. 24. Gautama! When the aforesaid winds blow in the east, they blow in the west; and when they blow in the west, they do blow in the east; and like this in all directions and sub-directions.
Q. 25. Bhante! Do the aforesaid winds exist in the isles?
A. 25. Yes, they do.
Q. 26. Bhante! Do they exist on the seas?
A. 26. Yes, they do.
Q. 27. Bhante! When the aforesaid winds blow on the isles, do they blow on the seas? When they blow on the seas, do they blow on the isles?
A. 27 They do not.
Q. 28. Bhante! Why do you say that when the aforesaid winds blow on the isles, they do not blow on the seas; and when they Wow on the seas, they do not blow on the isles.
A. 28. Gautama! It is because these winds are different (for the isles and different for the seas), and (the winds of the Salt Sea) do not cross the coast-line of the Salt Sea. It is so for this,...till they blow as aforesaid.
Q. 29. Bhante! Do moist, wholesome, mild and fast winds blow?
A. 29. Yes, they do.
Q. 30. Bhante!. When do moist, etc., winds blow?
A. 30. Gautama! When air-bodies move according to their own (inherent) nature, then, moist, etc., winds blow.
Q. 31. Bhante! Do moist, etc., winds exist?
A. 31. Yes, they do.
Q. 32. Bhante! When do moist, etc., winds come into existence?
A. 32. Gautama! Moist, etc., winds come into existence when air-bodies transform themselves.
Q. 33. Bhante! Do moist, etc., winds exist?
A. 33. Yes, they do.
Q. 34. Bhante! When do moist, etc. winds come into existence?
A. 34. Gautama! Moist etc., winds come into existence when Vāyukumāra gods and goddesses bring forth air-bodies for themselves, for others or for both8.
Q. 35. Bhante! Do air-bodies inhale air-bodies in their respirations in, and exhale (air-bodies) in their respirations out?
A. 35. On this, refer to Chapter on Skandaka Parivrājaka with four considerations as follows: die several hundred-thousand times, die by being touched, die (without body), and die with body9.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):
8. Three causes have been assigned for the blowing of the various winds. First, they blow because such is their inherent nature; second, they blow when they change from gross to fluid; and third, they blow when the Vāyukumāras make them blow. The original body (mūla śarīra) of the air-bodies is gross, which, when changed, into fluid becomes uttara-śarira [śarīra?]. When such wind blows, it is called uttara-kriyā or uttara-vaikriya.
An alternative explanation given is: of the four winds, the first three blow because of their inherent nature; the second, third and fourth blow when they transform into a fluid body; and all the four blow when they are made to do so by the Vāyukumāra gods.
9. The details which are contained in Book Two (supra) may be stated in brief:
Air-bodies inhale and exhale air, but not air-bodies. In other words, the air they breathe in and out is not living air. It is without life. They die and are born several hundred thousand times among the air-bodies. They die when they are hurt, and when they die, their caloric and karman bodies go out with them, but their gross and fluid bodies are left behind.