Agam 33 Prakirnak 10 Viratthao Sutra

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

Page 29

XXVIII : VĪRASTAVA-PRAKĪRŅAKA
Prakīrnaką, although Muni Śrī Punyavijayajī, in the preface to Painnayasuttāimi Part-1,24 Dr. Jagadīša Candra Jain in Prākrta Sāhitya Kā Itihāsa,25 and Śrī Devendramuniji Śāstrī in Agama Sāhitya : Manana Aur Mīmāmsā 26 has mentioned the name of Vīrabhadrācārya as the author of Catuhšarana, Āturpratyā khyāna, Bhaktaparijñā and Ārādhanāpatākā, but they have not dwelled on the matter of proofs thereof.
In the Jaina tradition, we find the mentions of two Vīrabhadrācāryas. The first Vīrabhadra is believed to be a direct disciple of Lord Mahāvīra Himself but the historical veracity of this mention is not quite clear. The second Vīrabhadra's mention is dated 1008 Vikrami era.?? It is possible that Vīrastava is a composition by Vīrabhadra-II. In Vīrastava, the author has not given any indication about his name anywhere. It must have been his intention that earlier masters must have sung the eulogy that he was composing, by the attributal names of the Lord, many times over and that he was, thus, not doing anything new. Under such circumstances how he could be the author of such a eulogy, he must have thought. This only proves the humility and authenticity of the author. In any case the names of the authors are not found in the canonical works of ancient origin. Based on this tradition, it can, therefore, be believed that Vīrastava is also of sufficiently ancient origin. The Period Of Composition Of Vīrastava –
As far as the question of the period of composition of Vīrastava is concerned, this Prakīrnaka is not mentioned in the
25 26
Painnayasuttāimi Part-1, Preface, pp. 17, 18. Prākrta Sāhitya Kā Itihāsa, Dr. Jagadísa Candra Jain, p. 128. A. Jaina Agama Sāhitya : Manana Aur Mīmāmsā, p. 400. B. The Canonical Literature Of The Jainas, pp. 51, 52. The canonical literature of the Jainas, p. 52.