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**Piṇḍaniyukti: A Commentary**
It is possible to suggest that the two appointments, which were composed as independent texts, were not included under the vow. However, both these texts are fully qualified to be independent texts in terms of subject matter and size.
Furthermore, the detailed description of the rules of the Muni's begging practice available in it also suggests that its time is contemporary with all other appointments. It can be said that the verses that reveal the exception in both Piṇḍa and Oga appointments are later mixed by the commentators or other Acharyas.
Nandinī Sūtrakara has given a list of many texts under Kālika and Utkalika Sūtras, but there is no mention of Piṇḍaniyukti and Oghanīyukti anywhere. It is surprising that he did not include these two important texts in the list of texts, even though they had been composed by that time. There are two possible solutions to this question: Firstly, these texts were not so famous until the time of Devardhigaṇī Kṣamāśramaṇa. They did not mention it because it was under the commentary literature like other appointments. Secondly, it is possible that some later Acharyas included these two texts under the original literature because they were the proponents of the original conduct of the Sadhu.
**The Independent Existence of Piṇḍaniyukti**
Piṇḍaniyukti has an important place in the Āgama and its commentary literature. It is an original and independent text written on the Muni's begging practice and diet. The importance of this text can be gauged from the fact that the German scholar Layman was the first to publish this text in the German language.
Professor H.R. Kapadia has mentioned that Bhavaprabhasūri was the first to mention four original Sūtras in Jain Dharmavarastotra: 1. Uttarādhyayana 2. Āvश्यक 3. Piṇḍaniyukti and Oghanīyukti 4. Daśavaikālika. Scholars like Professor Winternitz have considered Piṇḍaniyukti as an original Sūtra along with Uttarādhyayana, Āvश्यक and Daśavaikālika. Due to the description related to Sadhvācāra, it is sometimes counted under the Chhedasūtras.
Some scholars consider Piṇḍaniyukti as the fifth study of the Daśavaikālika appointment, Piṇḍaiṣaṇā niyukti.
1. All traditions do not accept these as original texts. (Editor)
2. Jain Dharmavarastotra 30 T. p. 94; Ath Uttarādhyayana-Āvश्यक-Piṇḍaniyukti and Oghanīyukti-Daśavaikālika iti
Chatvāri Mūlasūtrāṇi.
3. History of the Canonical literature of the Jainas p. 43.