Page Text
________________
... [240]...
--not of the authorship-of this Mantra in Mahāniśitha (Chapter V) which itself, it is believed, is restored by Āc. Haribhadra.31 And therein Arya Vajra is given the credit of restoring the Mantra. But it is surprising to know that the author of Dhavală commentary who flourished after Āc. Haribhadra considers Puspadantācārya to be the author of Namaskāra-Mantra32, We have no means to know if this tradition was recorded in some work belonging to the period earlier than the author of Dhavala. But we think that the manuscript of Satkhandāgama which Virasena, the author of Dhavala, utilised might have contained in its beginning Pañcanamaskara and hence he might have considered it to be a mangala composed by the author himself. This is how Virasena seems to have arrived at the conclusion that the author of Pañcanamaskāra is Puspadanta. Or, it is also possible that Virasena might have before him a tradition considering Puspadanta to be the author of Pañcanamaskāra. But no suggestion to this effect we find in any other work. From this discussion it becomes quite clear that originally this Mantra was not in the Agama, that is, the Anga Āgama; and that it was composed after the composition of Anga works. Opinions differ on the question of its authorship. Having taken into consideration the importance attached to Namaskāra-Mantra Ac. Jinabhadra regarded it as a part of each and every śruta work. And following the Niryukti he proved it to be the work of Tirthankaras and Ganadharas. On the other hand, Virasena regards Ac. Puşpadanta as the author of Pañcanamaskara-Mantra. But Āc Abhayadeva regards this Mantra occurring in the beginning of Bhagavatisūtra as constituting the beginning of Bhagavatísūtra proper and hence he comments on it.
31. It is necessary to note that Arya Vajra is regarded as the restorer of
Namaskara-mantra. Nowhere is he mentioned as the author of the Mantra. According to the old tradition Tirtharkaras and ganadharas alone
are the authors of the Mantra.. 32. Dhavalātīkā, Book I, p.41. For further discussion refer to Introduction
to Dhavalātikā, Book II, pp. 33-41. It is necessary to remove one misunderstanding. In this introduction it is written that the NamaskaraMantra at the beginning of Bhagaratisūtra contains the fifth line 'namo barbhie livie'instead of' namo loe savrasähunam'. But in fact it contains
namo loe savvasähunam' and in addition also contains the line in which the salutation is offered to Brahmi Script.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
| SR No. | 001064 |
| Book Title | Agam 15 Upang 04 Pragnapana Sutra Part 02 |
| Original Sutra Author | Shyamacharya |
| Author | Punyavijay, Dalsukh Malvania, Amrutlal Bhojak |
| Publisher | Mahavir Jain Vidyalay |
| Publication Year | 1971 |
| Total Pages | 934 |
| Language | Prakrit |
| Classification | Book_Devnagari, Agam, Canon, Metaphysics, & agam_pragyapana |
| File Size | 16 MB |