________________
136 : JAINISM AND DEMOCRACY a later development of the subject. They are also helpful in keeping the old tradition alive.
(a) Nijjuttis are the oldest type of commentaries. They are ten in number and written in Prākṣit verses. All of them are ascribed to Bhadrabāhu who died 170 years after the death of Mahāvira. But some of them are decidedly the works of the second Bhadrabāhu who lived in the 5th century A.D.
(b) After Nijjuttis we have Bhasas (Bhāşyas). They also are in Prākst meters and so mingled with the Nijjuttis that it is difficult to make a distinction. The Bhasa on the Āvassaya known in Sanskrit as Viseşāvasyaka Bhāsya is an encyclopaedic work. It has a Sanskrit commentary as well.
(c) Chuņņis are small commentaries by Sanghadāsa Gaņin. They are very important for knowing the old tradition.
(d) Tīkas are Sanskrit explanations by Abhayadeva, Malayagiri and Silānka.
Thus the canon of Svetambaras consists of the texts with four types of commentaries.
The Satkhandāgama and Kasāya Bahuda, the canon of Digambaras also contains many commentaries. Out of them Dhavalā and Jayadhavalā are most famous and regarded very highly. They are very big in size and full with information. Non-Canonical Scriptures :
The contribution of Jains towards the literature of India is large in extent as well as variety. This is not
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
