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- 29 - It is understood that the commentary is authored by the one who wrote the Prashamaratika. In such a situation, the modern notions that do not recognize the commentary as self-evident are deemed erroneous. Ancient Digambara commentators like Pujyapad and Akalangka have not raised any point that contradicts the self-evidence of the commentary.
(2) There are two commentators or interpreters of the Tattvarthsutra of the speaker Umāsvāti who are well-known in Jain tradition, known as Gandhahasta. One is considered a Digambara Acharya and the other a Shvetambara Acharya. Gandhahasta is an epithet. This epithet is understood to belong to the renowned scholar of the Digambara tradition, Acharya Samantabhadra, which implies that the author of Aptamimamsa, Gandhahastipadhdhari Swami Samantabhadra, wrote a commentary on the Tattvarthsutra of the speaker Umāsvāti. In the Shvetambara tradition, the epithet Gandhahasta belongs to the disciple of Vriddhavadin, Siddhasena Divakara. This belief is currently prevalent. According to it, it follows that the author of Sanmati and the disciple of Vriddhavadin, Siddhasena Divakara, wrote a commentary on the Tattvarthsutra of the speaker Umāsvāti. Both of these beliefs and the resulting statement are not verifiable and therefore are not acceptable. The term 'Gandhahasti' is found used for Digambara Acharya Samantabhadra's work, which is clear from the commentary on Laghu Samantabhadra's Aṣṭasāhasrikā. The period of Laghu Samantabhadra is considered to be between the 14th and 15th centuries. No definitive evidence supporting the aforementioned mention has been available so far. Based on my study and contemplation, I have arrived at the conclusion that there is some commentary, some great commentary,
1. "As stated here, the same Suri has quoted the verses 210 and 211 of Prashamaritika in the commentary."
2. In the ancient hymn known as 'Namotthuna', famous by the name 'Shakrastava', the Tirthankara is given the designation Gandhahasta by referring to him as 'purisavaragandhahatyona'. In the Digambara inscriptions from the tenth and eleventh centuries, a heroic soldier is found to be given the epithet Gandhahastli. The name of a Jain temple is also 'Savati Gandhavarana Jinālaya'. See - Dr. Hiralal Jain's edited collection of Jain inscriptions, pp. 123 and 129 in the inscriptions of Chandragiri Mountain.
3. See - Swami Samantabhadra, pp. 214-220.