More Light On Yapaniya Sangha

SR No.: 269239
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A N Upadhye
Publisher: A N Upadhye
Total Pages: 15
Language: English
Classification: Article
File Size: 2 MB

Page 14

More Light on the Yāpanīya Sangha : A Jaina Sect
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Harisena (931-32 A. D. ), the Vaddarādhane in Kannada mentions Jāpuli Sangha. The contexts are a bit confused, but both the texts refer to Ardha-phälaka, Kām balika, Sveta bhiksu and Yāpaniya, Janna ( 1209 A. D. ) in his Kannada Anantanāthapurāna mentions Rāmacandradeva of the Kāņūrgana (I. 25); and he qualifies Municandra Traividya by the expression Jāvaligeya which is not being correctly explained. Possibly the same Municandra with a similar adjective is mentioned in the Kannada Pārsvanāthampurāņu (I. 33 ) of Pārsvapandita (A. D. 1222 ). In my opinion Jāvaligeya stands for his Sangha, Yāpaniya. What is more interesting is that Janna assigns Jațā-Simhanandi and Indranandi to the Kāņūrgana which is associated closely with the Yāpaniya Sangha. Janna's praise of various Acāryas clearly shows that separatist tendencies of Ganas ett were not observed by these poets.
It is seen from inscriptional and literary evidence that the Yāpaniyas have lived hand-in-hand with Digambaras; and some of their temples and images are worshipped to this day by Digambaras in the South. Gunaratna (A. D. 1343-1418 ) does not show much acquaintance with the Yāpanīyas, and Srutasāgara (16th century of the Vikrama era ) has hardly any sympathy for them. In fact, even today, some scholars of the orthodox school, not knowing that a few images in the so-called Digambara temples are already of the Yăpaniya sect, still object to the old images of the Yāpanīya sect being installed and worshipped. Titles like Saiddhāntika, Traividya used by some Yāpaniya Acaryas indicate their studies of Şatkhandāgama etc. : this point needs further investigation.
Gunaratna, while commenting on the Saddarśanasamuccaya (beginning of the chapter IV ) of Haribhadra, observes thus :
Digambarāḥ punar nāgnya-lingā kompāni-pātrāś ca te caturdhā Kāsthāsamgha-Mülasa mgha-Māthurasangha-Gopyasamgha-bhedāt Kästhāsamghe camarībālais ca picchikā, Mūlasamghe mayūrapicchaih picchikā, Māthurasa mghe mūlato'pi picchikā nādrtā, Gopyā māyūrapicchikā ādyas trayo'pi samghā vandyamānā dharmavrddhin
1 Singhi Jaina Series, 17, Bombay 1943. *** 2 D. L. NARASIMHACHAR, 4th ed., p. 93, Mysore 1970. 8 Ed. H. SHESHAYYANGAR, Madras, 1960; Prof. G. VENKATSUBBIAH, Editor,
Kannada Nighantu, Bangalore, drew my attention to this. Shri HAMPA Nagaraj
tells me that he is not aware of Jāvaligeysewhere in Kannada works. 4 Bharatiya Jñädapitha od., Varanasi 1970, p. 160-61.