Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
## Introduction
39
'The *Sarvarthasiddhi* was written only after communal bias had increased, while the *Tattvarthabhashya* is completely devoid of such bias.'
We have already explained how the ascetics in the Jain tradition accepted clothes and utensils under certain circumstances. We have also mentioned that the *Shvetambara Angashruta* was composed after the 5th century. Therefore, it is certain that the *Tattvarthabhashya* was written sometime after that, because, in the words of the commentator himself (the *Tattvarthabhashyakar*), the *Angashruta* that he relied upon as the basis for the composition of the *Tattvarthabhashya* was completely accepted by the *Sthavira* sect. This statement is supported by this meaning.
Generally, this difference of opinion began to manifest itself in an aggressive form only after the *Shvetambara Angashruta* became established as a canonical text. Because, the inclusion of topics like clothed liberation and female liberation in such an important literature as the *Angashruta*, which is said to be part of the Jain tradition, was an event that destroyed and corrupted the old tradition. During this period, on the one hand, while the aforementioned matters were being ordained under the influence of communal bias, on the other hand, it became imperative to refute them from a theoretical perspective and to declare them as the cause of bondage due to philosophical delusion. The *Sarvarthasiddhikar* has done this work, and he has done it with firmness. In fact, the burden of protecting the theoretical side was on him during that time, and he has fulfilled it beautifully.
In such a situation, we should consider the chronology of the *Sarvarthasiddhi* and the *Tattvarthabhashya* based on other evidence. It is secondary to decide this based on stylistic differences, semantic development, and communalism. Therefore, let us decide this truth in the light of other evidence.
At this time, two main commentaries on the *Tattvarthabhashya* are available... the first is the commentary by *Haribhadra*, and the second is the commentary by *Siddhsenagani*. Although *Acharya Haribhadra* and *Siddhsenagani* were contemporaries or slightly later, they came after *Bhattakalankadeva*. Not only that, *Siddhsenagani* has also extensively used the works of *Bhattakalankadeva*, which is evident from his commentary. However, *Prajnakshu* Pandit *Sukhlalji*, while agreeing with this opinion, goes further. He writes on page 96 of the introduction to the *Tattvarthsutra*:
'While describing the commentary on the same sutra in some places, he specifies five or six different opinions. This gives reason to assume that when *Siddhsen* composed the *Vritti*, there must have been at least five commentaries written on the *Tattvarthsutra* in front of him; which seem to be separate from the three famous *Digambara* interpretations like *Sarvarthasiddhi* etc. Because, it is very likely that the *Rajavartika* and the *Shloka-vartika* were composed before the *Siddhseniya Vrittika*. Even if it was composed before them, there is at least this much difference between their compositions that *Siddhsen* did not have the opportunity to get acquainted with the *Rajavartika* and the *Shloka-vartika*.
Here, we must first criticize Panditji's statement and then see if *Siddhsenagani's* commentary was written without relying on the *Rajavartika*.
Panditji has first assumed five or six independent commentaries written on the *Tattvarthsutra* based on *Siddhsenagani's* commentary on chapter five, sutra three. We accept this on this basis. However, how can it be concluded from this that *Siddhsenagani* wrote his commentary without relying on the *Tattvarthavatika*? This only reveals that there were many other commentaries in front of him that presented many readings of the sutra 'Nityavasthananyaruparani'. This is a separate topic and should be discussed separately.
1. *Prajnakshu* Pandit *Sukhlalji* states on page 95 of the introduction to the *Tattvarthsutra* that the commentary by *Haribhadra* was completed by three writers, and this opinion seems appropriate from looking at the commentary.