By: H. Sequeira

Hem Chandra (12th century A.D.) was ‘called? the creator of the ‘Gujarat Consciousness?. He planted the seed of ‘ahimsa? which was later followed at the practical level by Mahatma Gandhi in his non-violent struggle for Indian Independence.

Hem Chandra was a polyfacetic genius. He was a poet, linguist, grammarian, lexicographer, teacher, philosopher, historian and yogi all rolled into one. M. Winternitz (author of the classic three tomes of History of Indian Literature) holds Hem Chandra in great esteem .

Nobody is a hero at home goes the saying. Besides King Kumarapala (Hem Chandra?s patron), his court, and a few kindred souls, few others knew about the great work of Hem Chandra. He was in a way a ‘discovery? of the famous German Indologist, Dr. J. G.Buhler , who appreciated his polyfacetic genius, and immersing in the various Sanskrit works of Hem Chandra, wrote his biography, published in 1989 in Vienna. His work on logic, grammar, syntax and so forth became the measuring rod for the new science of German philology, (that is study of languages.)

What is interesting for the yoga student is: how come this polyfacetic genius who wrote on so many subjects did not write anything about Yoga. He did, but at the end. King Kumarapala, his silent patron, finally requested Hem Chandra to write a book on Yoga Shastra.

The Yoga Shastra of Hem Chandra is based on Yoga Sutra, but is interwoven into the Jain philosophy and around the main concept of ?ahimsa?, ‘karma? and so forth.

SYNOPSIS:

Of Hem Chandra?s Yoga Shastra

o 1ST CH Deals with the importance of Yoga, lists five vows, and disciplines o 2nd ? vows elaborated, effects of transgression are explained o 3rd ? dinacharya that is daily routines and gaining glimpse of the ultimate goal o 4th ? deeper science of meditation. Defines body, mind, and soul. o 5h ? breath control and its effects, pranayama o 6th - 11 Different levels of meditation, rising to various levels in meditation. Also meditations on mantras o The 12th explains his insights gained through self realization. This chapter urges seekers to practice Yoga, saying that practice is the base for other sadhana.

Edit Note:

(Hem Chandra thus revolutionized Jain ritual, making Yoga an integral part of the Jain sadhu?s, yogi?s and muni?s sadhana)

Nuggets of Hem Chandra?s wisdom:

o Yoga serves the purpose of a sharp axe cutting off creepers in the form of impurities and imperfections and prepare a person for the way of emancipation o Yoga can work wonders if practiced regularly o Of the four ‘purusarthas?, that is dharma, artha, kama and Moksha, Moksha is the best, and Moksha is attained only through Yoga o Samyak Jnana or Right knowledge is the right

knowledge of the tattvas, that is first the soul and second group is Ajiva or what is not soul. Ajiva includes matter, time, space, motion and non motion o Non-violence, truth, non greed, control of passions and non stealing are the five vows. These are to be followed by proper thought process and behaviour. For Moksha these five bhavanas (ahimsa etc) have to be observed. o The practical aspect of these bhavanas are the first step of Yoga o If these steps are mastered the other angas of Yoga, follow spontaneously

Harold and Promil Jain-Sequeira