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PREFACE : XXV
in the sense of a monastic group, started sometime after the 6 century AD. 17
As far as the inscriptional evidence is concerned, the oldest available inscription in which the word Gaccha has been used to mean a monastic group is dated 1011 Vikrami Era or 954 AD. This inscription mentions ‘Vrhadgaccha:18 As far as the literary evidence is concerned, the very first use of the word Gaccha, in this sense, is found in the Ogha Niryukti (Circa 6–7th century AD). Therein it has been said, 'As a pleasure loving fish that cannot bear the jolting and jostling of the sea-waves, goes to the shore and perishes, so does a pleasure loving aspirant monk who cannot bear the rigorous discipline in the ocean of his monastic group - Gaccha, leaves the Gaccha and meets with his nemesis'.19 Although the Oghniryukti has not been mentioned amongst the ten niryuktis listed in the Avaśyakaniryukti, it is, generally, believed that the Oghaniryukti is a part and parcel of the Āvasyakaniryukti only. However, it does not seem probable that all the presently available verses of Oghaniryukti might have been there in the Avaśyakaniryukti. In our view, most of the verses of Oghaniryukti may have been composed sometime between the periods of composition of the Avasyaka Mūla Bhāsya and the
17
18
A. Jaina Silālekha Sangraha, Vol. II, Inscription No. 143. B. Pratisthā Lekha Sangraha, Inscriptions Nos. 34, 38, 39, 133, 833. “Samvat 1011 Vrhadgacchīya Śrī Paramānandasūri Sisya Śrī Yaksadevasūs ibhiḥ Pratisthitam."
- Śrī Jain Pratimā Lekha Sangraha, Lodha Daulat Singh,
Inscription No. 331. "Jaha sāgarammi mīnā sankhoham sāgaram asahantā| Ninti tao suhakāmi niggayamittā vinassanti || Evam Gacchasamudde sāranavīhim coiyā santā| Ninti tao suhakāmī mīnā va jahā viņassanti ||
- Oghaniryukti, verses 116, 117.
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