________________
XXXII: GACCHĀCĀRA PRAKĪRṆAKA
the author of this work has not mentioned his name as such. From this, whereas on one side it reveals his humility, on the other, it also shows that this work is of a sufficiently ancient origin.
The Period Of Composition Of Gacchācāra -
J
The classification of the canonical works in the Nandisutra and the Paksikasūtra carries no mention of the Gacchācāra Prakirnaka. The Gacchacara Prakīrnaka finds no mention in the Tattvärtha Bhasya and the Sarvärthsiddhi Tika (commentary), on the Tattvārthasūtra, of the Digambara tradition as well. Similarly, the works of the Yāpanīya tradition such as Mūlācāra etc carry no mention of the Gacchācāra Prakirnaka It is evident from this that this treatise had not been composed prior to the 6th century. The very first mention of this Prakīrṇaka is found in the Vidhimärgaprapa wherein the Gacchācāra Prakīrnaka has been mentioned as the last amongst the fourteen Prakirnakas mentioned therein.23 It means that the Gacchācāra Prakīrņaka is of a later origin than the Nandīsūtra and the Paksikasutra and of an earlier origin than the Vidhimargaprapa (circa 14th century AD). Just as the author of this work had not mentioned his name as such, he has also nowhere mentioned its year of composition. However, as the author has said that this work was composed on the basis of Mahāniśītha, Kalpasūtra and Vyavahārasūtra,24 this estimation gains ground that it was composed sometime after the composition of Mahaniśītha.
23
24
Vidhimārgapi..pă, pp. 57, 58. "Mahānisīha-Kappão Vavaharão Sahu-Sāhuniatthae Gacchācārm samuddhiyam ||"
taheva ya
Jain Education International
- Gacchācāra Prakīrṇaka, verse 135.
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
