Jinendra Varni
Encyclopedia
Jinēndra Varṇī, one of the best-known Jain scholars of the 20th century, is known for his pioneering five-volume Jainendra Siddhanta Kosha and Saman Suttam
compilation, the first text accepted by all Jain orders in 1800 years.
Jinēndra Varṇī was born in Panipat
in 1922 to a prominent Agrawal Jain
family. He struggled all his life with health problems. In 1938 he lost one lung
due to tuberculosis
. Still he studied electrical and wireless engineering
.
Jinēndra Varṇī left home in 1957 and during his wanderings he joined the well-known Ganesh Varni, who ordained him a kṣullaka
or junior monk. However, he was unable to follow the vrata
s of a kṣullaka due to his health problems and returned to being a Śrāvaka
.
In 1983, approaching death, Jinēndra Varṇī began santhara
on 12 April 1983 and was ordained again a kṣullaka by Acharya Vidyasagar
. He died in samādhi
on 24 May 1983.
by Acharya
Umasvati this was the first text to be recognized by all Jain sects. At Umaswati's time, although multiple orders existed, there was no clear sectarian division. By the 21st century however, Jainism had gradually been divided into several sects. For someone to compile a text at this time, and for it to be approved by all sects, was an exceptional event.
Jinendra Varni compiled a book, drawing from the original prakrit
(ardha-magadhi etc) texts. It was critically examined by several monks of different orders including Muni (now Acharya) Vidyanandaji
, Muni (later Acharya) Sushil Kumarji, Muni Janakavijaya, Muni Nathamal (now Acharya Mahaprajna), as well as scholars like A.N. Upadhye, Darbari Lal Kothia, Agarachand Nahta etc. Finally in an assembly on 12 December 1974 it was approved by all.
The text includes 44 chapters with topics such as Mangal Sutra (on auspiciousness), Atma Sutra (on the soul), Moksha Marga Sutra (on the path to liberation) etc.
The following verse is taken from section 37 "Anekanta-Sutra". The original text is in Prakrit.
jeNa viNA logassa vi, vavahAro na nivvaha{i} |
tassa bhuvaNekka-guruNo, Namo aNegantavAyassa ||1||
Saman Suttam
Saman Suttam is the religious text created in 1974 by a committee consisting of representatives of each of the major sects of Jainism to reconcile the teachings of the sects. After a gap of about nearly two thousand years following composition of Tattvartha Sutra by Acharya Umasvati this was the...
compilation, the first text accepted by all Jain orders in 1800 years.
Jinēndra Varṇī was born in Panipat
Panipat
Panipat بَنِبَت is an ancient and historic city in Panipat district, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km north from Delhi and 169 km south of Chandigarh on NH-1. The three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history. The city is famous in India by the name of "City of...
in 1922 to a prominent Agrawal Jain
Agrawal Jain
Agrawal Jains are an ancient Jaina community who origined from Hisar, Haryana. They are among the most prominent Jaina communities.-Legends:According to Bachan Kosh of Bulakhichand and several other texts from the Mughal period preserved in Delhi temple libraries, the emergence of the Agrawals is...
family. He struggled all his life with health problems. In 1938 he lost one lung
Lung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
due to tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. Still he studied electrical and wireless engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
.
Jinēndra Varṇī left home in 1957 and during his wanderings he joined the well-known Ganesh Varni, who ordained him a kṣullaka
Kshullak
A kshullak is a junior Digambar Jain monk. A kshullak wears two garments as opposed to a full monk who wears no clothes.A kshullak is sometimes accorded the title Varni, when they are engaged in studying and teaching....
or junior monk. However, he was unable to follow the vrata
Vrata
In the context of Hinduism and Hindu mythology, the term vrata denotes a religious practice to carry out certain obligations with a view to achieve divine blessing for fulfillment of one or several desires. Etymologically, vrata, a Sanskrit word , means to vow or to promise...
s of a kṣullaka due to his health problems and returned to being a Śrāvaka
Sravaka
Shravaka or Śrāvaka or Sāvaka means "hearer" or, more generally, "disciple".This term is used by both Buddhists and Jains. In Jainism, a shravaka is any lay Jain...
.
In 1983, approaching death, Jinēndra Varṇī began santhara
Santhara
Santhara , is the Jain religious ritual of voluntary death by fasting. Supporters of the practice believe that Santhara cannot be considered suicide, but rather something one does with full knowledge and intent, while suicide is viewed as emotional and hasty...
on 12 April 1983 and was ordained again a kṣullaka by Acharya Vidyasagar
Acharya Vidyasagar
Acharya Vidyasagarji is the best known of the modern Digambar Jain Acharyas of the modern times, known both for his scholarship and tapasya.- Biography :...
. He died in samādhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
on 24 May 1983.
Saman Suttam
Saman Suttam is the religious text created in 1974 by a committee consisting of representatives of each of the major sects of Jainism to reconcile the teachings of the sects. After a gap of about nearly two thousand years following composition of Tattvartha SutraTattvartha Sutra
Tattvartha Sutra is a Jain text written by Acharya Umaswati. It was an attempt to bring together the different elements of the Jain path, epistemological, metaphysical, cosmological, ethical and practical, otherwise unorganized around the scriptures in an unsystematic format...
by Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
Umasvati this was the first text to be recognized by all Jain sects. At Umaswati's time, although multiple orders existed, there was no clear sectarian division. By the 21st century however, Jainism had gradually been divided into several sects. For someone to compile a text at this time, and for it to be approved by all sects, was an exceptional event.
Jinendra Varni compiled a book, drawing from the original prakrit
Prakrit
Prakrit is the name for a group of Middle Indic, Indo-Aryan languages, derived from Old Indic dialects. The word itself has a flexible definition, being defined sometimes as, "original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual", or "vernacular", in contrast to the literary and religious...
(ardha-magadhi etc) texts. It was critically examined by several monks of different orders including Muni (now Acharya) Vidyanandaji
Vidyanandaji
Acharya Vidyanandaji is one of the most senior Jain monks. He was a disciple of Acharya Deshbhushanji.He has written may books and articles. He is now about 83 years old. He has spent his past 4 chaturmasas in Delhi....
, Muni (later Acharya) Sushil Kumarji, Muni Janakavijaya, Muni Nathamal (now Acharya Mahaprajna), as well as scholars like A.N. Upadhye, Darbari Lal Kothia, Agarachand Nahta etc. Finally in an assembly on 12 December 1974 it was approved by all.
The text includes 44 chapters with topics such as Mangal Sutra (on auspiciousness), Atma Sutra (on the soul), Moksha Marga Sutra (on the path to liberation) etc.
The following verse is taken from section 37 "Anekanta-Sutra". The original text is in Prakrit.
jeNa viNA logassa vi, vavahAro na nivvaha{i} |
tassa bhuvaNekka-guruNo, Namo aNegantavAyassa ||1||
External links
- For Saman Suttam in Prakrit: http://www.jainworld.com/samansuttam/samansuttam_sans.pdf
- For Saman Suttam transliteration and translation in English: http://www.jainworld.com/samansuttam/samansuttam_eng.pdf
- Biography: http://www.jinvaani.org/pujya-jinendra-varni-ji.html