Dravya Sangraha - Verse 1

Verse 1 :

•      This verse is called Mangalãcharana –

•      All Jain scriptures start with a manglacharan.

•      It pays respect to the Jinas who gave us the knowledge.

Why do all the scriptures/ granths start with a Mangalãcharana?

•      Expresses devotion

•      Shows egolessness

•      Shows gratitude

•      Asks for blessings to complete the work without obstacles.

What else does this gatha show?

·       This gatha also talks about the subject matter of the book ie Jiv and Ajiv.

·        It also tells us that the knowledge comes from the highest beings ie the Jineshwara.

Dravya Sangraha - Summary

·       Dravya Sangraha means “Compendium of Substances”.

·       It is a 10^th century Jain text authored by Acharya Nemichandra Siddhant Chakravati who lived in Southern India around 1000 AD.

Why Study Dravya Sangraha ?

·       It is a good source of advanced knowledge of Jaina religion for those with basic foundation.

·       It explains the true tenets and principles of Jainism.

·       The aim is to get the right knowledge to destroy Karmas with ultimate purpose is get Moksha.

The book has 58 verses written in Prakrit.

It divided as:

Benediction or Manglacharan                                   Verse 1

Living Substance or Jiv dravya                                 Verses 2 to 14

Non – Living Substances or Ajiva dravya                Verses 15 to 28

Seven Fundamental truths or 7 Tattvas                    Verses 29 to 39

Path of Liberation or Moksamarga                            Verses 40 to 50

Description of 5 Supreme Beings or Pancha Parmeshthi            Verses 51 to 58

Is the book practical application Jain Dharma ?

Binaben says :

The thing is we are discussing a granth. As when you were in standard one you had no idea why you were doing reading and writing but you persevered and therefore in form two you could do those tasks effortlessly. This is the same thing. You HAVE TO complete all the gathas to understand what it was all about. When you read fiction do you not complete till the last page to find out what it was all about? Why not here?

There is theory and there is practical. The theory always comes prior to the practical. The practical aspects will come after the 2nd session is done. That is how this granth is arranged.