Phoolchandra Shastri

Siddhantacharya Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri (11 April 1901 – 31 August 1991) was a Jain scholar, writer, editor, freedom fighter, social reformer and an intellectual giant in the field of Jainism. He is best known for dedicating a major part of his life in translating to Hindi the foremost and the oldest Digambara Jain Canon, Shatkhandāgama and Kasayapahuda, and its commentaries, Dhavala, Maha-Dhavala and Jai-Dhavala. He was also an active member of the Indian National Congress during the Indian struggle for freedom. Singhai Daryavlal Jain and his wife Jankibai were his parents. He did his graduation from Shri Gopal Digambara Jain Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Morena in 1922. He got married in 1923 at the age of 22 years. He migrated from Silawan to Bina and from there he migrated and settled in Varanasi. He lectured in Jain Philosophy at Banaras Hindu University and Syadvad Digamabara Jain Mahavidyalaya, Varanasi from 1924 to 1928.

Career as a Jain Pandit

As noted by Prakash Jain in his book Jain Community of Bundelkhand, He enunciated on philosophical and controversial topics in Jainism such as caste, stri-mukti (the liberation of women) and the inherent purity of souls. These topics were a matter of great debate between Digambara Pandits of Varanasi during the first few decades of the post-independence era. As noted by the Jain scholar, Prof. Padmanabh Jaini, Panditji's publishing of his research on niyativada based on various ancient Jain texts resulted in a great deal of debate amongst the Jain scholars. His interpretation of the philosophical concept of niyati or pre-destination, opened up a new field of research for the comparative study of Ajivika and Jain doctrines of bondage and salvation. He, along with his close friends and colleagues Pandit Kailash Chandra Shastri and Pandit Jaganmohan Lal Shastri, were famously known as the Ratnatrayi, that is, the three jewels of Jainism. He was a protégé of the noted Jain scholar and philosopher Ganeshprasad Varni. While he belonged to the Digambara Terapanth tradition, his ecumenical and non-sectarian approach helped him in reducing tensions between the Samaiya community of Taran Panth and his own Parvar community of Digambara Terapanth to which he belonged. He has also authored numerous books on Jainism like Varna, Jati Aur Dharma and Jain Tattvamimamsa. Besides the translation of Shatkhandagama and Kasayapahuda, he edited and translated numerous Jain ancient texts like the Tattvarthasutra, the Ratnakaranda Shravakachara and the Sarvarthasiddhi. Jain Dharma Aur Varna Vyavastha – Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Parishad, Delhi, 1945. Vishvashanti Aur Aparigrahvaad – Shri Ganesh Varni Granthmala, Varanasi, 1946. Jain Tattvamimansa – Ashok Prakashan Mandir, Varanasi, 1960. Jain Tattvamimansa (revised and extended edition) – Ashok Prakashan Mandir, Varanasi, 1978; (third revised edition), – Siddhantacharya Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri Foundation, Roorkee, 1996. Varna, Jati Aur Dharma – Bhartiya Jnanpeeth, 1963; Jain Tatva Samiksha ka Samadhan – Pandit Todarmal Smarak Trust, Jaipur, 1987. Akinchitkar, Ek Anushilan – Ashok Prakashan Mandir, Varanasi, 1990. Parvar Jain Samaj ka ltihaas – Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Parvar Sabha, Jabalpur, 1992.

Translator and Editor In addition to above, Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri also edited or translated the following texts: Ratnakarandaka Shravakacara of Acarya Samantabhadra, Shri Jain Sahitya Hindi Prasarak Karyalay, Mumbai (1935) Shatkhandagama (Dhavala) (translator and editor) published by S.S.L.C. Jain S. Fund, Vidisha, M.P. and J.S.S. Sangha, Solapur in the years 1939–1959 and 1973–1985. Kasayapahuda (Jai-Dhavala) Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Sangha, Mathura, U.P.(1941–86) Mahabandha, Bhartiya Jnanapeeth, New Delhi. (1944–70) Prameyaratnamala – Chaukhamba Sanskrit Series, Banaras, 1928. Aalap Paddhati, Shri Sakal Digamber Panchan Natepute ( Solapur), 1934. Saptatikaprakarana (Edited with Hindi commentary)- Aatmanand Jain Pracharak Pustakalaya, Agra,1948. Tattvarth Sutra (Edited with Hindi commentary) Ganesh Prasad Varni Jain Granthamala, Varanasi,1950, Shri Ganesh Varni Sansthan, Varanasi, 1981 Panchadhyayi (Hindi commentary) – Ganesh Prasad Varni Granthamala, Varanasi, 1950. Jnanpeeth Pujanjali – Bhartiya Jnanpeeth Prakashan, Kashi, (second edition) 1957, 1977, 1982. Sarvarthasiddhi – ( edition and translation) – Bhartiya Jnanpeeth, New Delhi, 1960, 1985. Samayasaarakalasha (with meanings) – Shri Digambar Jain Svadhyay Madir Trust, Songarh, 1964. Shri Kahanji Swami Abhinandan Granth (Editor) – Digamber Jain Mumukshu Mandal, Mumbai, 1964. Khaniya Tattva-Charcha (Book One) – Acharyakalp Pandit Todarmal Granthmala, Jaipur, 1967. Khaniya Tattva-Charcha (Book Two) – Acharyakalp Pandit Todarmal Granthmala, Jaipur, 1967. Samyagyan-Dipika (Edited and translated) – Shri Digambara Jain Mumukshu Mandal, Bhavnagar, 1970. Labdhisaar-Kshapanasaar – Shrimad Rajchandra Aashram, Agaas, 1980.