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 47

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TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA
His work Tattvārtha well acquaints us with his scriptural knowledge pertaining to the eleven Anga-texts, and so there remains no doubt whatsoever as to his this much competence. All the tenets upheld in the Jaina scriptures received by him in heritage have been compiled by him in Tattvārtha'—without leaving unmentioned even a single topic that might appear to be important. Hence it is that Ācārya Hemacandra evaluates Umāsvāti as the topmost among the authors of a compendium.?
Again, it is on account of this competence of his that so many Svetāmbara and Digambara masters have been impelled to write a commentary on Tattvārtha.
(C) The Sect of Umāsvāti
The Digambaras, treating Vācaka Umāsvāti as one belonging to their own sect, accept as his composition just one work Tattvārtha-Sūtra; on the other hand, the “vetāmbaras, treating him as one belonging to their own sect, accept as his composition not only Tattvārtha-sūtra, but also the bhāsya on it. Now the question arises as to which sect-the Digambara, the
called Pūrva-Śruta. Gradually, this scriptural mass got mixed up with that originating from Lord Mahāvīra and began to be counted as a part of the latter. Obviously, therefore, those who were in possession of twelve Angas originating from Lord Mahāvīra were conversant with this Purva-Śruta. However, since it used to be retained in oral memory alone as also for other reasons the Purva-Śruta gradually got lost and is to-day found quoted only as a nominal remnant in the form of a Pūrvagata-gathā—that is, a stray verse that originally belonged to a Pūrva text. Moreover, we have got several works composed on the basis of a Purva-text.
A Digambara rock-inscription-one numbered 46-received from the Nagara taluk calls him Śrutakevali-desīya, this as follows:
Tattvārthasūtrakartāram umāsvātimunīśvaram / śrutakevalidesīyam vandéham gunamandiram //
1. For the scriptural origin of the topics dealt with in Tattvārtha see Tattvārtha-Jaināgama-Samanvaya edited by Upādhyāya Atmārāmji.
2. ‘upomāsvāti sangrahītāraḥ —Siddhahema, 2. 2. 39.