History, Scriputure And Controversy In A Medieval Jain Sect (Routledge Advances in Jaina Studies)

Examining the history and intellectual activity of the medieval Svetambara Jain renunciant order, the Tapa Gaccha, this book focuses on the consolidation by the Tapa Gaccha from the thirteenth century of its identity as the leading Svetambara order. The author argues that this was variously effected by negotiating the primacy of lineage, the posthumous divinity of one of its leaders, the validity of styles of scriptural exegesis and customary practice and the status of non-Jains through the medium of chronicles and poetry and polemical engagement with other Jain orders and dissident elements within its own ranks. Drawing on largely unstudied primary sources, the author demonstrates how Tapa Gaccha writers created a sophisticated intellectual culture which was a vehicle for the maintenance of sectarian identity in the early modern period. The book explores issues which have been central to our understanding of many of the questions currently being asked about the development not just of Jainism but of South Asian religions in general, such as the manner in which authority is established in relation to texts, the relationship between scripture, commentary and tradition and tensions both between and within sects. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 11 A note on dating and nomenclature 12 List of abbreviations 14 Introduction: the background to the Tapā Gaccha 16 The heirs of Sudharman 16 Linguistic modes in the Tapā Gaccha 20 The laity in the Tapā Gaccha 23 The organisational infrastructure of the Tapā Gaccha 26 The sūri as leader 28 The plan of the book 30 1 The uplifting of morality: lineage history and the beginnings of the Tapā Gaccha 32 Customary practice and the Śvetāmbara gaccha 32 Lineage and genealogy in Śvetāmbara Jainism 35 Lineage and kingship in the Tapā Gaccha 38 Munisundarasūri's 'Lineage of Teachers' 41 Dharmasāgara's 'Sūtra on the Line of Succession of the Tapā Gaccha' 46 The beginnings of the Tapā Gaccha according to Munisundarasūri's 'Lineage of Teachers' 49 The beginnings of the Tapā Gaccha according to Dharmasāgara's 'Sūtra on the Line of Succession of the Tapā Gaccha' 57 An alternative account of the beginning of the Tapā Gaccha: Nayasundara's 'Teacher Succession of the Bṛhatpośālika Lineage' 60 Conclusion 65 2 From monk to god: the transformation of Hīravijayasūri 68 Memorialising the dead teacher 69 The Jain mahākāvya and Sanskrit aesthetics 70 Devavimala's Hīrasaubhāgyamahākāvya and its background 73 The transformation of Hīravijayasūri in the Hīrasaubhāgyamahākāvya 78 Hīravijayasūri's deification and the triumph of the Tapā Gaccha 85 Conclusion 86 3 Unlocking the casket: Tapā Gaccha attitudes to scripture and exegesis 88 Śvetāmbara Jain perspectives on scripture and commentary 89 The structure of Jain scripture according to Kulamaṇḍanasūri 92 Dharmasāgara's 'One Hundred Verses on the Procedure for Interpreting the Sūtras' 95 Acceptance of the Mahāniśītha Sūtra as a definition of orthodoxy 98 Excursus: upadhānatapas and the study of the scriptures 100 The authority of scriptural commentary 103 Sūtra is not siddhānta 109 Conclusion 115 4 Digging up the roots of deviance: Tapā Gaccha perspectives on heresy 118 Orthodoxy and heresy 118 An early Tapā Gaccha account of heresy: 'Light on the Major Entities' 120 Dharmasāgara's attitude to Jain heresy 129 The heretic and the tīrthaṅkara 138 Two examples of controversy: the date of Saṃvatsarī and the wording of the Pañcanamaskāra mantra 141 Conclusion 144 5 Drops of water in the ocean of Jainism: the dispute within the Tapā Gaccha concerning inclusivism 147 The historical background to the dispute 147 Inclusivism in Śvetāmbara Jainism 152 Dharmasāgara's 'One Hundred Verses on the Omniscient One' on religious pluralism 155 The response to 'One Hundred Verses on the Omniscient One': (1) The Tapā Gaccha leadership 162 The response to 'One Hundred Verses on the Omniscient One': (2) Yaśovijaya's 'Examination of the Dharma' 165 Yaśovijaya's understanding of Jainism as an ocean 175 Yaśovijaya as inclusivist 178 Conclusion 180 Afterword 183 Appendix 185 Glossary 193 Notes 195 Bibliography 260 Index 279 This Book Examines The History And Intellectual Activity Of The Svetambara Jain Renunciant Order, The Tapa Gaccha, In The Late Medieval Period. It Focuses In Particular On The Consolidation By The Tapa Gaccha From The Thirteenth Century Of Its Identity As The Leading Svetambara Order, Arguing That This Was Variously Effected By Negotiating The Primacy Of Lineage, The Posthumous Divinity Of One Of Its Leaders, The Validity Of Styles Of Scriptural Exegesis And Customary Practice And The Status Of Non-jains Through The Medium Of Chronicles And Poetry And Polemical Engagement With Other Jain Orders And Dissident Elements Within Its Own Ranks. Drawing On Largely Unstudied Primary Sources, The Author Demonstrates How Tapa Gaccha Writers Created A Sophisticated Intellectual Culture Which Was A Vehicle For The Maintenance Of Sectarian Identity In The Late Medieval Period. The Book Explores Issues Which Have Been Central To Our Understanding Of Many Of The Questions Currently Being Asked About The Development Not Just Of Jainism But Of South Asian Religions In General, Such As The Manner In Which Authority Is Established In Relation To Texts, The Relationship Between Scripture, Commentary And Tradition And Tensions Both Between And Within Sects.--book Jacket. Introduction: The Background To The Tapa Gaccha -- 1. The Uplifting Of Morality: Lineage History And The Beginnings Of The Tapa -- Gaccha -- 2. From Monk To God: The Transformation Of Hiravijayasuri -- 3. Unlocking The Casket: Tapa Gaccha Attitudes To Scripture And Exegesis -- 4. Digging Up The Roots Of Deviance: Tapa Gaccha Perspectives On Heresy -- 5. Drops Of Water In The Ocean Of Jainism: The Dispute Within The Tapa Gaccha Concerning Inclusivism -- Afterword -- Appendix 1: Primary Sources For Chapter One -- Appendix 2: List Of Suris Of The Tapa Gaccha -- Glossary -- Bibliography Paul Dundas. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 245-263) And Index.