Umaswati, spelled as Umasvati and known as Umaswami, was an Indian scholar, possibly between 2nd-century and 5th-century CE, known for his foundational writings on Jainism.
21 Facts About Umaswati
2.
Umaswati authored the Jain text Tattvartha Sutra.
3.
Umaswati's work was the first Sanskrit language text on Jain philosophy, and is the earliest extant comprehensive Jain philosophy text accepted as authoritative by all four Jain traditions.
4.
Umaswati's text has the same importance in Jainism as Vedanta Sutras and Yogasutras have in Hinduism.
5.
Umaswati is claimed by both the Digambara and Svetambara sects of Jainism as their own.
6.
Umaswati was influential not only in Jainism, but other Indian traditions over the centuries.
7.
Umaswati, was an Acharya and therefore one of the Panca-Paramesthi in Jaina tradition.
8.
The theory mooted by Umaswati is that rebirth and suffering is on account of one's karma and a life lived in accordance to vows of virtuous living with austerities cleanses this karma, ultimately leading to liberation.
9.
Umaswati was thus called as Svatitanaya after his father's name and as Vatsisuta after his mother's lineage.
10.
Umaswati's name is a combination of the names of his parents.
11.
Umaswati authored his scriptural work the Tattvartha Sutra when he was in Pataliputra or Kusumapura.
12.
Umaswati was the first Jain thinker to have written a philosophical work in the sutra style.
13.
In Digambara tradition that reveres Kundakunda, Umaswati is considered as a disciple of Kundakunda.
14.
Umaswati includes the doctrines on the subjects of non-violence or ahimsa, Anekantavada, and non-possession.
15.
Umaswati asserts that soul is distinguished by suppression of deluding karma, or elimination of eight types of karmas, or partial presence of destructive karmas, or arising of eight types of new karmas, or those that are innate to the soul, or a combination of these.
16.
Further, states Umaswati, karma affects the body, the shape, the characteristics as well as the status of the soul within the same species, such as Ucchi or Nicchi status.
17.
The accumulated and new karma are material particles, states Umaswati, which stick to the soul and these travel with the soul from one life to the next as bondage, where each ripens.
18.
The chapter 9 of Tattvartha Sutra by Umaswati describe how karmic particles can be stopped from attaching to the soul and how these can be shed.
19.
Umaswati asserts that gupti, dharma, contemplation, endurance in hardship, and with good character towards others, a soul stops karmic accumulations.
20.
Umaswati was an influential, authoritative scholar in Indian history, particularly within Jainism.
21.
Umaswati's text was cherished not only by the Jaina traditions, but widely distributed and preserved by the Hindus for centuries.