Jinendra Varni

Kshullaka Jinendra Varni, (क्षुल्लक जिनेन्द्र वर्णी) one of the best known Jain scholars of 20th century, is known for his pioneering five volume "Jainendra Siddhanta Kosha" and Saman Suttam compilation [Progressive Jains of India By Satish Kumar Jain, 1975,Shraman Sahitya Sansthan] , the first text accepted by all Jain orders after 1800 years.

He was born in Panipat (Haryana) in 1922 in a prominent Jain Agrawal 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. He left home in 1957 and during his wanderings he joined well-known Kshullaka Ganesh Varni, who ordained him a "chhullaka".

Unable to follow the vratas of a kshullaka due to health problems, he returned to being just a "brahmachari". In 1983, approaching death, he entered "sallekhana" on 12 April 1983 and was ordained again a kshullaka by Acharya Vidyasagar. He died in samadhi on 24th May.

aman 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 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|

References

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