''Jnanarnava'' (Sanskrit: ज्ञानार्णव, IAST:''Jñānārṇāva'', Meaning: Ocean of Wisdom on Meditation) is an important

Jain text Jain literature (Sanskrit: जैन साहित्य) refers to the literature of the Jain religion. It is a vast and ancient literary tradition, which was initially transmitted orally. The oldest surviving material is contained in the ca ...

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

on various topics useful to the

mendicant A mendicant (from la, mendicans, "begging") is one who practices mendicancy, relying chiefly or exclusively on alms to survive. In principle, mendicant religious orders own little property, either individually or collectively, and in many inst ...

but focuses primarily on

meditation Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally cal ...

. Another name for this text is ''Yogapradipadhikara'' meaning, the Book that Illuminates Meditation.

Subject matter

''Jnanarnava'' is an important work in

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current ...

focusing on ''dhayana'' (

), its techniques and results. But it does not focus only on meditation, but is underpinned by Jain ontology and presents the Jain teachings in the light of

Yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...

. Subhacandra distinguishes three categories of ''dhyana''—good, evil and pure, in conformity with the three types of purposes, viz., the auspicious, the inauspicious and the transcendental. At another place, he classifies ''dhyana'' into ''prasasta'' (the psychical or psychological view) and ''aprasasta'' (practical or ethical view). In addition to this, he also elaborately expounds the process of ''dhyana'' by classifying meditation into ''pindastha'' (five forms of contemplation or dharmas), ''padastha'' (contemplation by means of certain Mantric syllables), ''rupastha'' (meditating on the divine qualities and the extraordinary powers of the Arihants) and ''rupatita'' (meditation on the attributes of

Siddha ''Siddha'' (Sanskrit: '; "perfected one") is a term that is used widely in Indian religions and culture. It means "one who is accomplished." It refers to perfected masters who have achieved a high degree of physical as well as spiritual ...

tman). Besides meditation, this books deals extensively on Jain ethics like Ahimsa, Satya etc. One of the most forceful statement on Ahimsa is found in the Jnanarnava: "Violence alone is the gateway to the miserable state, it is also the ocean of sin; it is itself a terrible hell and is surely the densest darkness"; and "If a person is accustomed to committing injury, then all his virtues like selflessness, greatness, desirelessness, penance, liberality, or munificence are worthless" (8.19-20).

''Jnanarnava'' is a fairly extensive work and has 39 chapters and 2230 verses. The 39 chapters are: # ''Pithika'' (Background) # ''Dvadasha Bhavana'' (Twelve Contemplations) # ''Dhyana Lakshana'' (Characteristics of Meditation) # ''Dhyana Guna-Dosha'' (Virtues and Faults of Meditation) # ''Yogi Prashamsa'' (In Praise of the Mendicant) # ''Darshana Vishuddhi'' (Purity of Perception) # ''Jnanopayoga'' (Focus of Knowledge) # ''

Ahimsa Ahimsa (, IAST: ''ahiṃsā'', ) is the ancient Indian principle of nonviolence which applies to all living beings. It is a key virtue in most Indian religions: Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.Bajpai, Shiva (2011). The History of India � ...

Vrata Vrata is a Sanskrit word that means "vow, resolve, devotion", and refers to pious observances such as fasting and pilgrimage ( Tirtha) found in Indian religions such as Jainism and Hinduism. It is typically accompanied with prayers seeking hea ...

'' (Vow of Nonviolence) # ''

Satya ''Satya'' (Sanskrit: सत्य; IAST: ''satya)'' is a Sanskrit word loosely translated as truth, essence. A. A. Macdonell, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Asian Educational Services, , pp. 330–331 It also refers to a virtue in Indian relig ...

'' (Vow of Truth) # '' Caurya Parihara'' (Avoiding Stealing) # ''Kama Prakopa'' (Tumult of Passion) # ''Stri Svarupa'' (True Nature of Woman) # '' Maithuna'' (Carnal Enjoyment) # ''Samsarga'' (Commingling) # ''Vrdda Seva'' (Serving the Old) # ''Parigrahadosha Vicara'' (Reflecting on the Faults of Attachment to Wealth) # ''Asha Pishaci'' (The Demon of Expectation) # ''Aksha Vishaya Nirodha'' (Suppressing the Pleasures of the Eye) # ''Tritattva'' (The Three Substances) # ''Mano Vyapara Pratipadana'' (Conduct of the Mind explained) # ''Ragadi Nivarana'' (Riddance of Attachment and Aversion) # ''Samya Vaibhava'' (The Power of Equanimity) # ''Arta Dhyana'' (Mournful Meditation) # ''Arta-Raudra'' (Mournful - Wrathful) # ''Dhyanaviruddha Sthana'' (Places detrimental to Meditation) # ''

Pranayama Pranayama is the yogic practice of focusing on breath. In Sanskrit, '' prana'' means "vital life force", and ''yama'' means to gain control. In yoga, breath is associated with ''prana'', thus, pranayama is a means to elevate the '' prana'' ''sha ...

'' (Control of Breath) # ''Pratyahara'' (Withdrawing the Senses) # ''Savirya Dhyana'' (Meditation on Oneness with the Supreme Soul) # ''Shuddhopayoga Vicara'' (Reflection on the Supreme Meditation) # ''Ajna Vicaya'' (Meditation on the Jinas' teachings) # ''Apaya Vicaya'' (Meditation on the Destruction of karmas) # ''Vipaka Vicaya'' (Meditation on the Fruition of karmas) # ''Samsthana Vicaya'' (Meditation on the Structure of the Universe) # ''Pindastha Dhyana'' (Meditation on Concrete Objects) # ''Padastha Dhyana'' (Meditation on Words) # ''Rupastha Dhyana'' (Meditation on the Jinas) # ''Rupatita Dhyana'' (Meditation on the Self) # ''

Dharma Dharma (; sa, धर्म, dharma, ; pi, dhamma, italic=yes) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. Although there is no direct single-word translation for '' ...

Dhyana Phala'' (Fruits of Righteous Meditation) # ''Shukla Dhyana Phala'' (Fruits of Meditation of the Pure Self)

Authorship and dating

Acarya Shubhacandra does not mention his name anywhere in this exhaustive work on meditation. However, the influence of earlier luminaries like Jinabhadra Gani Kshamashramana, Acarya Pujyapada, Acarya Akalanka, Acarya Jinasena, Acarya Amrtacandra, Acarya Somadeva and Acarya Amitagati is clear in this work. In turn, he has influenced the work of Acarya Prabhacandra and Acarya Hemacandra. He may be dated as having lived in the 11th century CE. Shubhacandra was a guru to Gangaraja, general and prime minister to King Bittideva under whose guidance he undertook many acts of piety and religion to advance the cause of

. The Jain religion places a great deal of emphasis on purity of conduct and the ability of the soul to attain liberation through the highest level of meditation. However, there are not that many books on meditation written by the Jains. This automatically places this text in an exclusive category, along with Jinabhadra Gani's ''Dhyanashataka'', Pujyapada's ''Samadhitantra'', Haribhadra's ''Yogabindu'' and ''Yogadrshtisamuccaya'', Jinasena's '' Adipurana'', Amitagati's ''Yogasara Prabhrta'' and ''Shravakacara'', Gunabhadra's ''Atmanushasana'' and

Hemacandra Hemachandra was a 12th century () Indian Jain saint, scholar, poet, mathematician, philosopher, yogi, grammarian, law theorist, historian, lexicographer, rhetorician, logician, and prosodist. Noted as a prodigy by his contemporaries, he g ...

's ''Yogashastra''. There is an uncanny resemblance between this text and Hemacandra's ‘Yogashastra’. Clearly, one has influenced the other. Since Shubhacandra precedes Hemacandra, it is likely that Hemacandra is influenced by Shubhacandra.

Commentaries

Following is a partial list of commentaries on ''Jnanarnava'': #Acarya Vidyanandin (1470) – Commentary on Shubhacandra's ''Jnanarnava'' #Shrutasagara Suri (1500) – Tattvatrayaprakashini on Shubhacandra's ''Jnanarnava'' #Pandit Nayavilasa (1650) – Commentary on Shubhacandra's ''Jnanarnava'' #

Yasovijaya Yashovijaya (, 1624–1688), a seventeenth-century Jain philosopher-monk, was a notable Indian philosopher and logician. He was a thinker, prolific writer and commentator who had a strong and lasting influence on Jainism.Dundas, Paul (2004) p. ...

(1680) – Commentary on ''Jnanarnava''

Subject matter

Contents

Authorship and dating

Commentaries

References

See also