Jain Journal 1983 10

SR No.: 520072
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 35
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 24

A Note on
Vasunandi And His Date
HAMPA NAGARAJAYYA,
Sravakācāra of Vasunandi is a famous Parkrit text which explains the six-fold duties of the pious Jaina house-holder viz, deva-sevā (or püjā, worship of divinity), gurupāsti (devotion to guru), svadhyaya (study of scriptures), samyama (self-restraint), tapas (penance) and dāna (religious donation); and the well-known eleven classes (pratimā).
Srāvakācāra which is also known as Upasakādhyayana, contains 546 gāthās in all. In the concluding colophon the author mentions the geneology of his gurus (Kundakundanvaya) Srinandi, Nayanandi, Nemicandra and Vasunandi. Vasunandi says that with the blessings of his revered teacher Nemicandra he is writing Upāsakādhyayana, for the benefit of the worthy ones, which has been handed over to him by the regular unbroken tradition of Jaina teachers. Hence it is but natural that we come across parallels; gāthās from No. 295-301, and some more, are similar to those found in Sravaka Pratikramaṇa Sutra. A comparative study reveals that many of the gathās here are based on Devasenagani's Bhāvasangrah, whose date is known definitely as 933. Asadharasuri (1239) has clearly mentioned the very name of Vasunandi in his work Sāgāra-Dharmāmṛta Tikā. Hence, in fixing up the date of Vasunandi, who has not mentioned his date, we have both the lower and upper limits clearly established; that the upper limit is 1239 and the lower limit is 933. With the help of available evidences that we had on hand, Dr. H. L. Jain, puts the date of Vasunandi as roughly between these two limits 933-1239, as mostly around 11th or 12th Century (Bharatiya Samskṛtime Jaindharm kā Yogdan, 1962; a Kannada Version of this book is also published in 1971 by Jivaraj Jain Granthmala, Sholapur).
Now it is left for the scholars working in the field of Jainology to find out the exact date of Vasunandi. As an humble student working in the same field of Jainology since last 25 years, I had the occasion recently of laying my hands on this problem. Luckily for me, I have two valid grounds, with the help of which the date of Vasunandi can be clarified.
Ramacandra Mumuksu (RM) the author of Punyāśrava Kathākoṣa (PKK) also mentions Vasunandi, and describes him as a versatile in Jainology, a măsopavāsin (a person who could fast for a month), who was prominent among the learned, and for whom virtues were ornaments