Agam 39 Chhed 06 Mahanishith Sutra

Author(s): Punyavijay, Rupendrakumar Pagariya, Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani
Publisher: Prakrit Granth Parishad

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MAHĀNISIHA STUDIES AND EDITION IN GERMANY
18.2 Schubring, MNSt.B,pp.171-174. 8.2.1 ... Regarding the Mss. used by us, my colleagues have given all details; on my part I would like to join then in heartily thanking Muni Shri Punyavijaya, whose willingness to help us by getting tre film of or Ms. (Pu) prepared and sending it to Hamburg and lending us also the original of anot'ır Ms. (K) has been of immense value for our understanding of the textual transmission. The Ms. K belongs to the collection of Pravarttaka Shri Muni Kāntivijaya and could be lent with the friendly consent of the local authorities, to them also we tender our sincere thanks. As we have been informed, Muni Punyavijaya is himself preparing an edition of the complete Mahānisiha. Though we could not wait for his edition to be published, we await it with high expectations. It will be then easy and confortable to study the Mahānisiha in one book, while it has to be studied at present in not less than three volumes, wherein three scholars have, for example, prepared five glossaries according to their individual preferences. The reader may excuse us for this uncomfortable situation. The editors can, however, claim to have critically worked upon the text. 8.2.2 Already in 1918, 1 attentively studied the then available Mss. which allowed me only a general survey; on the basis of better material and better understanding I would now not keep unchanged many of the views expressec therein. However, the following, along with some more, remarks retain their validity, if, at the end of my studies, I may characterize the curious work again. 8.2.3 The Mahānisiha does not fit into the framework of the Canon, although some stylistic devices have been employed to create such an impression. There are exegetical quotations in āryās. Besides āgama and siddhanta (!). younger literary genres are mentioned in the text. More than one vijjā = vidyā "charm" appear in magical script, where even Apabhramsa is not missing. The question of the residence (where should the monks stay: in sacred buildings or in private houses) is discussed with vehemence. The compiler is a zealot advocate of staunch discipline of monks. His attitude is due to the conditions of his time, which he observed. His is a period of decadence, caused by the notorious Kalkin (= Mihirakula). The prophecy in VII.44 (MNSt.C.p.88) refers to a date "a little more than 1250 years" after Mahavira's nirvāņa, traditionally dated 527 BC. (addha-terasanham vāsa-sayānam säiregāņam samaikkantānam parao: C,p.88.7), i.e. to a date little later than 623 AD; this date lies nearly one hundred years after the victory over Kalkin in 527 AD. In this wording we detect a hint for the date of the MNA. 8.2.4 The compiler deals zealously with the personal and social behaviour of the monks and nuns, individually and collectively, and towards the gaccha (a new term instead of the older gana), and as a leader of the gaccha. Of the monks he damands an absolute honesty in admitting their offences and in faithfully executing the penance and atonement. The results of bad behaviour are indeed dreadful in this world and also in the worlds hereafter. We get astronomical figures which denote the duration of