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**The Sarvarthasiddhi**
The primary language of the **Kagama-mathu** has been Prakrit, and the **Shruta** (scriptural texts) compiled by the Indian **Acharyas** (teachers) outside of Bengal is also mostly written in Prakrit. The various forms of Prakrit that are available confirm that it was the language of the common people for a long time, even before the time of Lord Mahavira and after. Pali, in which important ancient Buddhist literature is available, is a dialect of Prakrit. From the beginning, the Jains and Buddhists have had a nature to teach the common people in their language. As a result, they have done most of their literary work in the language of the people, Prakrit. But gradually, with the dominance of Brahmanism in India and their literary language being Sanskrit, the Buddhists and Jains were forced to write their useful literature in Sanskrit as well. This is why the important text **Tattvartha Sutra** was written in Sanskrit. This is the first text written in Sanskrit in the Jain tradition. There is no definite evidence that Jain literature was written in Sanskrit before this. The **Tattvartha Sutra** is a short **Sutra** text, but it contains a good collection of **Pramays** (principles). For this reason, it has been adopted equally by all the sects of the Jain tradition. It has been equally well-received in the philosophical world as well as the spiritual world. From this point of view, the **Tattvartha Sutra** is considered to be as important in the Jain tradition as the **Gita** is to the Vedic people, the **Bible** to the Christians, and the **Quran** to the Muslims. Most Jains recite it daily, and some recite one chapter of it every day on the **Ashtami-Chaturdashi** days of the **Dasha-lakshana Parva**, which is listened to with great devotion by the common people. It is said that whoever recites it once in their lifetime gets the benefit of a fast.
**Name**
The main name of this **Sutra** text is **Tattvartha**. This name is mentioned by its main commentators. In the **Sarvarthasiddhi**, this sentence appears at the end of each chapter:
"**Iti Tasyarthavritta, Sarvarthasiddhishikayaam Adhyayah Samaptas**" (Thus ends the meaning of this, in the **Sarvarthasiddhi** commentary).
At the end of the **Sarvarthasiddhi**, there are three verses of praise, in which the present commentary is called **Tattvarthavritti**, and the name of the present text is declared as **Tattvartha**. The same is the case with the **Tattvarthavartika** and the **Tattvartha Shloka-vartika**. In the first auspicious verse of both these commentary texts, and in the concluding verses of each chapter, the same name of the original text is mentioned.
There are seven **Tattvarthas** - **Jiva**, **Ajeeva**, **Asava**, **Bandha**, **Samvara**, **Nirjara**, and **Moksha**. The present **Sutra** text elaborates on these seven **Tattvarthas** in relation to **Samyagdarshan** (right faith). It seems that this is why it got the name **Tattvartha**.
In the common world, it is also known as **Tattvartha Sutra**. This name is mentioned by **Vira Sena Swami** in his famous commentary **Dhavla**. **Siddhasena Gani** also mentions this name in the concluding verses of some chapters in his commentary. It seems that it got its second name **Tattvartha Sutra** because it discusses the seven **Tattvarthas** (Jiva, etc.) in the style of a **Sutra**. But since the word **Sutra** is added to the previous name, it is possible that both names are the same. It is possible that the name **Tattvartha Sutra** is used only for convenience.