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14
Hence it follows that Umasvati is anterior to Divakara Suri and he hence flourished earlier than Vikrama.
ve expounded this ap but as 'Suksma-Trasa ihis Nayacakra, Karma
. Moreover, Vacaka (Umasvati) has mentioned fire bodied and air bodied beings as "Trasa". He has designated them as merely 'Trasa'. He has added no qualifying word to "Trasa'. Venerable Sivasarman Suri has as it were expounded this aphorism. While doing so he has mentioned fire bodied and air-bodies beings not as merely "Trasa' but as 'Suksma-Trasa' to avoid any conflict with the scripture. So Umasvati is anterior to him too. In the commentary of this Nayacakra, Karmaprakrti (Kammapayadi) of Sivasaraman Suri is cited as an authority. Those who assign the fourth century to Umasvati and the fifth to Sivasarman Suri should reconsider their thesis,
These suri (Umasyati) has composed 500 ‘prakaranas, It seems that so far as the Jaina literature is concerned amongst the available Jain Sanskrit works so many sanskrit works are first composed by this (Suri) and none else.
Tattvartha' (sutra) of this Suri is designated as 'agama' by venerable Haribhadra Suri, (spiritual) son of Yakini Mahattara,. According to the Jaina tradition every work composed by a Caturdasapurvadhara (i. e. one conversant with 14 Purrvas or by a 'dasapurvadhara i, e. one conversant with 10 Purvas) is called Agam. So Umasvati was dasapurvadhara. Amongst dasapurvadharas Vajrasvamina is without a follower of this kind. He is the last dasapurvadhara'. He is said to have flourished in the second century of the Vikrama era, (Hence) Umasvati must be earlier then he.
By convening the Council of the congregation of Jaina asectics in north Mathura in Vikrama Samvat 153, 'Gandhastin Suri", pupil of Madhumitra Suri, co-pupil of Umasvati has composed 'mahabhasya' on 'Tattvartha'. In Himavantasthaviravali it is said :
" पूर्वस्थविरोत्तंसोमास्वातिविरचिततत्त्वार्थोपरि अशीतिसहस्त्रश्लोकप्रमाणं महाभाष्य रचितम् यदुक्तं तद्रचिताचाचाराङ्गविवरणान्ते यथा-थेरस्स महुमित्तस्स सेहिहिं तिपु-वनाण जुत्तेहिं । मुनिगणविवदिएहिं ववगयरागाइ दोसेहिं ॥१॥ बंभदीविय साहामडेहिंगन्धहत्थि विबुहेहि । विवरणमेयं रइयं दोसयवासेसु विक्कमओ ||२||
From this at least one fact becomes certain that "Gandhahastin Suri' has composed a volumi. nous 'bhasya' on Tattvartha', and he was alive in 'Vikrama Samvat 200. So the author of Tattvarthasutra is earlier than Vikrama Samvat 200,
Some are tempted to belive that Umasvati belonged to the 'Yapaniya' Sangha (community) But this 'Sangha originated in Vikrama Samvat 205 as said by Digambara Darasana Suri, whereas Umasavati is proved as anterior to Vikrama.
Niryuktis (Nijjullis) & Cononical Treatises
The author of Niryuktis (Nijjuttis) is 'Bhadrabahusvamin' a 'caturdasapurvadhara. Ancien venerable Suris believe that Niyuktis were composed (latest) in Vira Samvat 170.
1 asilara a i t taT: R. * 2 सम्यग् दर्शन ज्ञानचरित्राणिमोक्षमार्ग इत्यागमोतिरुध्यते
Ayasyakatiko (p. 72a)
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