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## Devagam - Aapta-Mimamsa
**3. Devagam-Vritti -** This is a concise explanation of the Devagam. It is neither as difficult as the Ashta-Shathi nor as extensive and profound as the Ashta-Sahasri. The commentary on the karikas is also not lengthy, nor is it a philosophical elaboration. Only the word-meaning and sometimes the implied meaning of the karikas and their words are presented in a very concise manner! However, this Vritti is quite useful for understanding the meaning of the karikas. Its author is A. Vasunandi, who himself wrote at the end of the Vritti that 'I am a dull-witted and forgetful person. I have written this concise description of the Devagam for my own benefit.' This clear self-introduction of the Vritti-kar reveals the brevity of this Vritti and its purpose. It is noteworthy that Vasunandi, even though he had access to the Ashta-Shathi and Ashta-Sahasri commentaries on the 114 karikas of the Devagam, and knowing the concluding mangal-padya of a Devagam-vyakhya by a previous Acharya, as mentioned by Vidyānanda in the karikas like 'Jayati Jagati', etc., on what basis did he consider the 115th karika of the Devagam and describe it? This is a matter of thought. We believe that in ancient times, there was a tradition among the sadhus of reciting the Devagam and memorizing it. Vasunandi must have memorized the Devagam from such a copy, which, along with the original 114 karikas of the Devagam, also included the concluding mangal-padya of the said unknown Devagam-vyakhya, and marked it with the number 115. Vasunandi must have written this Devagam-Vritti to memorize the meaning of the Devagam without referring to the Ashta-Shathi and Ashta-Sahasri commentaries, and in it, he must have described all (115) the memorized karikas. This is the reason...
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1. 'Srimat Samantabhadracharyasya Devagamakhyah Kriteh Sanksepabhutum Varnanam Kritam Shrutavismaranashilena Vasunanadina Jadamatina Atmopakaraya' - Vasunandi, Devagamvritti p. 50, Sanatan, Jain Granthamaala.