Agam 33 Prakirnak 10 Viratthao Sutra

Author(s): D S Baya
Publisher: Agam Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Samsthan

Page 23

XXII: VĪRASTAVA-PRAKĪRṆAKA
Uttaradhyayana and the Daśavaikālika.15
Virastava Prakīrnaka -
We find the very first mention of the Vīrastava Prakirnaka in Vidhimārgaprapā (Jinaprabha, Circa 14th Century AD). This treatise mentions fourteen works as Prakīrņakas. They are Devendrastava, Tandulavaicārika, Maranasamādhi, Mahāpratya-khyāna, Āturpratyākhyāna, Samistāraka, Candravedhyaka, Bhaktaparijñā, Catuḥsarana, Vīrastava, Gaṇividyā, Dvīpa-sāgaraprajñapti, Sangrahaṇī and Gacchācāra.16
In the treatises prior to Vidhimārgaprapa that mention the Prakīrṇakas - Nandīsūtra and Pāksikasutra, we don't find a mention of the Virastava Prakīrṇaka. Thus, the very first mention of this Prakīrņaka is in Vidhimārgaprapa only. The mention of Virastava in Vidhimārgaprapa along with citing the procedure for studying the canonical texts, proves that this work had been recognised as a Prakīrṇaka by the 14th century AD.
Vīrastava is a poetical eulogistic composition in the Prakrta language. Its name - Vīrastava is a composite of the words Vīra and stava, which means 'a panegyric sung in the praise of (Lord) Mahāvīra. Before discussing the subject matter of this work, we find it essential to consider the tradition of panegyrics composed for singing the praise of the Lords that has been prevalent since the ancient times.
The Tradition Of Eulogistic Literature –
The tradition of singing the praise of the objects of worship and veneration has been continuing since very ancient times in
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16
Regarding the ancientness of Rsibhāṣita see 'Rsibhāṣita Eka Adhyayana' by Dr. Sagarmal Jain, Prākṛta Bhāratī, Jaipur. Vidhimārgaprapā, Ed. Jinavijaya, pp. 57-58.