Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
1. The author of Tattvarthasutra, Umaswati, states: "There are two types of lineage - birth-lineage and knowledge-lineage." When considering someone's birth history, one must take into account the tradition related to their father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, grandson, great-grandson, etc., in relation to blood. When one wants to know the history of a person's knowledge (scripture), it is essential to consider the guru, pre-guru, and the disciple-disciple lineage associated with that scripture's creator.
'Tattvarth' is a scripture of the Jain branch of Indian philosophical knowledge, and thus its history falls within the tradition of knowledge-lineage. The knowledge included by its author in Tattvarth was obtained through the guru lineage and is organized in a specific manner according to his perspective to make it particularly useful. The form of that knowledge organized in Tattvarth has not remained unchanged thereafter. Scholars and commentators have made numerous improvements, additions, completions, and developments in that knowledge according to their capabilities and the prevailing ideologies of their respective times. Therefore, it is essential in this 'introduction' to present not only Tattvarth and its author but also the extensive commentaries and commentators as branches of lineage.
The initiator of Tattvarthadhigam scripture is equally accepted among all sects of Jains from the very beginning. Digambaras consider them a part of their lineage, while Shvetambara consider them a part of theirs. In the Digambara tradition, they are known by the names 'Umaswami' and 'Umaswati,' while in the Shvetambara tradition, both these lineages have been recognized in Aryan tradition and Aryan literature for thousands of years. 'Birth-lineage' is relative to the household life due to its association with species, while 'knowledge-lineage' is relative to the guru lineage due to its association with knowledge. The clear mention of these two lineages can be found in Panini's grammatical sutra, such as 'Vidya-yoni-sambandhebhyah Vunj' 4.3.77. Therefore, the conception of these two lineages is much older than Panini.