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Sri GurubasavalingaSwamy
MA in Sanskrit
#77/1, Gowrishankar Nagra
Ooty road, Mysore-570025
Cell: 9844330736
Email: gurushree8@gmil.com
Introduction
jain text written by acharya Umaswami, in the second century AD. It is the first jain
scripture written in the Sanskrit language. It was an attempt to bring together the
unsystematic format. It is the first jain text in sutra or aphoristic from, and bring
almost entire jain doctrinal sytem in 350 sutras spread over 10 chapteres.
The Tattvartha Sutra is regarded as one of the earliest, most authoritative book on
Jainism, and the only text authoritative in both the Digambara and svetambara sects.
Its importance in Jainism is comparable with that of the Brahma Sutras andYoga
composed of the Sanskrit words tattva "things, realities" and artha "true nature".
The Tattvārtha-sūtra is the only text that is accepted as an essential scripture by
all Jain sects. There are disagreements about the date it was written and differences
in the Digambara and svetambara versions but the text sums up key beliefs of
Jainism and its authority remains strong. Commentaries reflect these differences but
also emphasise the place of the scripture at the heart of the Jain tradition.
indicates the nature of the text and why it is widely considered to be the essence of
The Tattvārtha-sūtra has three features that make it unique among Jain religious
texts.
the svetambara and the Digambara sects. The Digambaras do not consider
This is the reason the Tattvārtha-sūtra was selected to represent Jainism in the
Sacred Literature Series. It is one of the books published by the International Sacred
Literature Trust, which organises the publication of key texts in different faiths. It
was translated into English under the titleThat Which Is. However, this does not
mean that svetambaras and Digambaras agree on everything relating to this text.
Secondly, it is written in Sanskrit. The different scriptures which are thought of as
Thirdly, its literary form is remarkable. Whereas the canonical scriptures are mostly
lengthy texts, theTattvārtha uses the sutra style. This means extremely concise
aphorisms or a general truth made up of only a few words. Some aphorisms have
The latter two features are noteworthy because they show that it was written to
provide a vigorous summary of Jain principles for audiences who were familiar
with both Sanskrit and the sutra style. These audiences were probably specialists in
various Indian philosophical doctrines, of yoga and so on. All Indian philosophical
schools have their own text in Sanskrit and use the same sūtra style.
The aim is to be liberated or to reach salvation. This means to become free from
the cycle of rebirth and leave for ever the world of transmigration. Hence
theTattvārtha-sūtra is also known by the name Mokṣa-sūtra or Aphorisms for
Salvation.
A believer can reach salvation by following the principles of correct faith, correct
understanding and correct conduct. The way these terms are arranged in the original
text emphasises that all three together are necessary. They form the triplet
These terms are far from being obvious, and have been the starting point of
because it means that, before anything else, the individual must at least have a
positive approach to the doctrine he is going to learn about and begin acting out. If
he refuses certain basic principles at the start, there is no need for him to continue.
In practice, it means belief in tattvas. This means recognising the existence and
Seven tattvas
Principle Detail
saṃvara blocking the flowing of new karmic particles into the soul
Tattvartha-Sutra is not a part of the primary sacred scriptures of the Jains. But
compared with the Bible (Christians), Quaran (muslims) Gita (hindus) or Avesta
(zoroastrians). It has been a highly popular text. That is why it has the largest
to current age.