Tilakmanjarisara

SR No.: 002611
Original Sutra Author: Pallipal Dhanpal
Author: N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1969
Total Pages: 146
Language: Sanskrit, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 7 MB

Page 16

Muni Shri Jinavijayaji opined1s that Dhanapala belonged to the Digambara faction of Jainism. Shri Nathuram Premi has rightly remarked1 that the passages quoted by Muni Shri Jinavijayaji do not warrant such a conclusion. The author himself begins his work with a salutation to Lord Rṣabha, the First Tirthamkara. The beginning “faqatala (3:]" might be his own or by the scribe. But this cannot prove that he must have been a Digambara. However, the very fact that a "Svetambara" Pandit like Lakṣmidhara took the trouble of composing another compendium of the Tilakamañjari within such a short period of two decadesprobably during the very life-time of Amana and Dhanapala-might tempt us to conjecture a certain literary and scholarly rivalry between the two Jaina factions, viz. the Svetambaras and the Digambaras. Perhaps it was for the sake of claiming a similar scholarly credit for his sect that Pandit Lakṣmidhara was actuated to undertake his work inspite of the existence of such a fine product of Dhanapala in the field. Muni Shri Jinavijayaji has also seen such a possibility in this matter. But no final conclusion can surely be based on conjectures.
As to the date of this work, Dhanapala has noted it very exactly, which in its turn at least proves beyond doubt that he was a Jain author. In his epilogue15, the author informs us that be completed his work on Thursday, the eighth Sukla of the month of the Karttika in the year twelve hundred sixty one of the Vikrama Era (1261 V. Sam i. e. 1205 A. D.). At this time Gujarat was being ruled by the Calukya king Bhima II (V. Sam. 1235-1298 i. e. A. D. 1179-1242.).
Laksmidhara finished his own TMKS in the year 1281 V. Sam18 (1225 A. D.), just twenty years after the completion of Dhanapala's TMS. Lakṣmidhara has not taken any notice of Pallipala Dhanapala, though he could not have been unaware of his work which was composed during bis life time in the same city! As conjectured above, most probably his rival belonged to the the rival Digambara faction!! And it might be the reason why we do not find any notice of the work of Dhanapala or his father Amana anywhere in any of the published lists of the Svetambara Jaina Bhandars. But even this is a negative evidence, since the 13. cf. JSCH, XI. Nos, 7-10.
14. cf. JSAI. p. 471.
15. cf. TMS. Epilogue Vs. 6 : इन्दुदर्शनसूर्यावत्सरे मासि कार्त्तिके ।
शुक्लाष्टम्यां गुरावेष कथासारः समर्थितः ॥६॥
16. cf. TMKS: Colophon (after the last verse 1188); faxifasciaqlari aalag— एकाशित्या समधिकरविशतत्रिकमगते समानिवहे [१२८१] शुचिसितपक्षतिरविवारहरभं ध्रुवयोगबबकरणे ॥१॥