Lilavai

SR No.: 002796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1966
Total Pages: 500
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 15 MB

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LĪLĀVAI
Hemacandra. Now and then there are quotations in the commentary, generally in Sanskrit and only once or twice in Prakrit (pp. 20, 28); they are mostly anonymous (pp. 4, 5, 8 [Pañcatantra ], 10 [ Ibid. ], 17, [Ibid.], 18 [Ibid. ], 28, 41 [Ibid. ], 53, 56, 61, 131 [Nitiśataka] & 162), and rarely with their sources specified (pp. 2 Kalidasa, 20 Hemasūri, Vatsayana, 31 Cakrapāņivijaya-mahākāvya, 33 Nitisastra, 52 Smrti and 193 Hemasuri ).
It is the commentator who discloses to us the name of the author of the Lilavati as well as that of his wife; but unfortunately he has not said anything about himself, nor has he mentioned his name.1 The use of expressions like mutkalapya (p. 76, 1. 27) and the confusion between bhavana and bhuvana (p. 1, 1. 6) go to indicate that he belonged to Gujarat. According to Pandit's observation, the use of kila at the beginning of a sentence is found only in Sanskrit works by Jaina writers; and our commentator shows this trait in his writing. Further the fourfold classification of buddhi (p. 40) and, if I understand it right, the use of the term upayoga (p. 60), as found in Jaina literature and philosophy go to indicate not only the commentator's close study of Jaina scriptures but also the possibility of his being a follower of Jaina religion. His reference to Hemacandra in respectful terms as prabhu Sri Hemasurayaḥ (pp. 20 and 193) perhaps indicates that he was a monk of the Svetämbara section. Thus it appears that the commentator was a Svetambara Jaina monk from Gujarāt. As to his date, he must have flourished sometime between A. D. 1172 (when Hemacandra died) and A. D. 1404 (the date of the Bikaner мs, which contains the Sanskrit Vrtti).
1 According to the Jinaratnakośa (Poona 1944), p. 338, there is an anonymous MS. of the Lilavati accompanied by the commentary of Malayasagara in the Jainananda Pustakalaya, Gopipura, Surat. It is necessary that this MS. should be inspected, and then alone something can be said about its identity or otherwise with the present text of Lilavati and its Sanskrit commentary. 2 See the Notes on gatha No. 5 at the end.