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PREFACE : XXXI
4. Pu. - A copy from the collection of mss belonging
to Muni Śrī Punyavijayaji, which is in the safe custody of the LD Institute Of Indology, Ahmedabad.
For more details on these manuscripts we recommend that our readers refer to pp. 23-27 of the preface to Painnayasuttăini Part-1
The Author And The Period Of Composition -
Although Mahāpratyākhyāna Prakīrnaka has been mentioned in many treatises such as Nandīsutra, Pāksikasūtra, etc, but the author's name is nowhere found mentioned. On the basis of whatever indications we get, it can only be said that it is a composition by some elder master (Sthavira Ācārya) of the 5th century or earlier. As no indication about the name of its author is anywhere available, it is difficult to say more on this issue.
However, as far as the question of its period of composition is concerned, we can say with certainty that it is a composition of a period prior to the 5th century, because, besides the Nandisutra and the Pāksikasūtra, Mahāpratyākhyāna's mention is also found in Nandi-cūrni etc. A brief description of the subjectmatter of this Prakirnaka is available in the Pāksika-vrtti and the Nandi-cūrni. As the period of composition of the Cūrnis is around the 7th century, it can be surmised that Mahāpratyākhyāna Prakirnaka must have been composed earlier than the period of composition of the Nandi-cūrni. Again, Mahāpratyākhyāna Prakirnaka is clearly mentioned in the original text of the Nandīsūtra and the Pāksikasūtra. Muni Śrī Punyavijayaji and Pt. Dalsukhbhai Malavaniya have specially discussed the issue of the period of Nandisūtra's author Devavācaka. In the Nandi
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