Tattvartha Sutra

SR No.: 006796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sukhlal Sanghavi, K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 596
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Tattvartha Sutra, & Tattvarth
File Size: 10 MB

Page 26

THE AUTHOR'S FOREWORD
thing only about Shri Nathuramji Premi's article. “Vācaka Umāsvāti ka Sabhāsya Tattvārthasūtra aur unkā sampradāya (= Vācaka Umāsvāti's Tattvārthasūtra along-with-its-bhāsya and his sect)” that has appeared in Bhāratiya Vidyā, Singhi Smāraka Arka. After a prolonged consideration of the issue he has come out with the view that Vācaka Umāsvāti was a master belonging to the yāpaniyas order. Many of his arguments are such as incline one to endorse his view; so with a view to examining this view of his a special study of Bhagavati Ārādhanā along with its commentaries was made by Shri Dalsukh Malvania. Whatever notes he took down as a result of his study have been considered by me too in his company. And while undertaking this consideration a necessary perusal was also made of the texts like Bhagavati Ārādhanā, its commentaries, Brhatkalpabhāsya etc. The question was considered with an open mind as far as that was possible. And in the long run we both arrived at the conclusion that Vācaka Umāsvāti was not a Yapaniya but one belonging to the sacela sect (= the sect allowing for the wearing of clothes)—as we have demonstrated in the Introduction. The conclusion of our perusal and consideration is in brief as follows :
(1) If the text Bhagavati Ārādhanā and its commentator Aparājita both belong to the Yāpaniya sect, then the following turn out to be the characteristic views of the Yāpaniya order on the questions of conduct :
(a) The general recommendation of the Yāpaniya code of conduct is a renunciation of clothes or nakedness.
(b) In the Yāpaniya order just like the monks the nuns too have a room as an aspirant for mokşa; and under special circumstances nakedness is recommended for the latter as well.
(c) The Yāpaniya code of conduct recommends eating things placed on one's palm and as a general rule it recommends the carrying of no external instrument except a kamandalu (=a bowl-like waterpot carried by the ascetics) and a piccha (=bird's feather meant for cleaning things and places.)
Now these characteristic views do not at all tally with the