Studies in Jainology Prakrit Literature and Languages

SR No.: 001597
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B K Khadabadi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 460
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Language
File Size: 22 MB

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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
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like the Lokavibhāga, the Tiloyapannatti, the Satkhandāgama of Puspadanta and Bhūtabali with the Dhavalā, Jayadhavala and Mahādhavalā commentaries. All of his works are in Prakrit viz., Jaina Sauraseni. They can be enumerated as follows:
(i) Davva-Samgaha (Dravya-sangraha) (ii) Tiloyasāra (Trilokasāra)* (iii) Gommațāsara (Gommatasāra) (iv) Laddisara (Labdhisāra)
The Dravya-sangraha expounds the theory of the six substances that exist in and comprise the universe. The Trilokasāra describes the three units of the Jaina cosmography. The Gommatasāra, as the title indicates, was specially written for instructing Gommataraya and, hence, is of great importance and value. It consists of two parts viz., sivakānda and Karmakānda, with 22 and 9 Adhikāras, and 733 and 972 gahas respectively. It, as a whole, is also known as Pamcasamgaha as mentioned by the commentators. It contains the valuable essence of ancient works of Karananuyoga concerning jīva and karma, particularly the Satkhandagama with the three great cominentaries.? Though this work is of the nature of collection, with its language, style and discussion on many a Jaina philosophical points etc., it has earned a great name among scholars right from the beginning. The Labdhisāra iss just like an appendix to the Gommatasāra describing the way how jīva liberates itself by destroying karma. This brief survey of Ācārya Nemicandra's works shows us that the Gommațasāra is his greatest and monumental work and, hence, naturaly, greater number of scholars took interest in writing commentaries on it than those who did so regarding each of the other three works.
On the Gommatasāra there are available so far mainly four commentaries :
(i) Mandaprabodhikā in Sansskrit by Abhayacandra (c. 1275