Prashamratiprakaran

SR No.: 001259
Original Sutra Author: Umaswati, Umaswami
Author: Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1989
Total Pages: 180
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English, Principle, & Philosophy
File Size: 9 MB

Page 21

prescribed by him in Tattvarthasutrabhāṣya and Prasamaratiprakarana is clear evidence that he belongs to the Svetambara sect.34 A systematic account of a monk's clothes, utensils and food mentioned in the Prasamarati is applicable to Svetambaras only.25
In Prasamarati, prescribing the rules of conduct for monks, he actually refers to Acarangasūtra which is not accepted by Digambaras as Agama.26 The main reason in denouncing Svopajñabhasya of T. S. and other works as those of Umasvati by Digamburas is that the doctrines mentioned in these works not only do not support the Digambara doctrines but they directly go against their very system. It seems that even different readings of the T. S. are introduced by Pujyapada to suit Digambara view point, otherwise they are absent in earliest manuscripts of the T. S. text. 27
Works :
Umisväti was a pre-eminent writer in those days and the tradition attributes to him not less than five hundred treatises called Prakaraṇagranthas. At the present state of our knowledge, it is very difficult to accept this traditional view. But it appears that he might have written a few more texts than those handed down to us because, certain verses attributed to Umasvati by later writers like Siddhasenagapi, Abhayadevasūri and Bhavavijaya, are not traceable in his extant works.29 At present Tattvärthasutra with Svopajñabhāṣya, Prasamaratiprakarna, Jambudvipasmāsa, Sravakaprajñapti and Pujaprakarana are accepted as works of Umāsvāti. II. PRASAMARATIPRAKARANA IS A WORK OF UMĀSVĀTI :
It is undoubtedly cretain that Pragamaratiprakarana is from the pen of the same author who has written Tattvärthasutra with Svopajñabhaṣya. Its language and line of thought bear such a remarkable similarity with T. S. that it is very difficult to believe that they are from the pen of a different author. Parallel lines are found in several places, certain lines are bodily I'fted from one work to another. This is clearly indicative of spontaneous outcome of the same author.30 Secondly, almost all the eminent writers and commentators of Svetambara sect have recognised Prasamarati as a work of Umäsvati and tney quote profusely many verses from it in support of their content. Jinadasamahattara (7th A. D.) a great writer quotes 120th verse from Prasamarati in his Nisithacurṇi3 after saying that Acarya said so. Siddhasengani (8th A. D.) commenting on Tattvärthasūtrabbaṣya clearly mentions that the same thing is explained by the same author in his Prasamarati. 32 He quotes many verses from Prasamarati to defend his view.33 Haribhadrasfiri (8th A. D.) known as Yakinisunu, recognised as a gigantic scholar and commentator quotes two verses from Prasamarati in his commentary on T. S. bhasya by saying that it is said by the same author in other