Aspect of Jainology Part 2 Pandita Bechardas Doshi

Author(s): M A Dhaky, Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 455

BUDDHISÅGARASURI'S LINGĀNUSASANA WITH
Introduction
AUTO-COMMENTARY
N. M. Kansara
Buddhisagara süri, the disciple of Vardhamanasüri of Candra-gaccha, was contemporary and co-disciple of the famous Jinesvara süri, the arch-patriarch of the future Kharatara-gaccha, He flourished in the first half of the eleventh century A. D. Jineivara suri mentions at the close of his Pramanalakṣaṇa that he and his co-disciple Buddhisägara süri undertook to compose a work on nyayalaklaşa (epistemology) and yakaraga (grammar) respectively, with the express motive to meet the criticism that the Jainas wrote on work of their own on these twin subjects. Thus, Buddhisägara sūri composed his Pañca-granthi-vyakarana, also known after the name of the author as Buddhisagara-vyakarana. Further, Jinesvara süri declares that the yakaraṇa work in question was in verse and composed after consulting the work of Panini, Candra, Jainendra, and Viiränta, as also the Durga-fika. H. D. Velankar, in his Jina-ratna-kofa, has noticed that this work has been alluded to in S. 1095/A.D. 1035 by Dhanesvara sūri (Candra-Kharatara gaccha) in his Surasundari-katha, in S. 1120/A. D. 1064 by Abhayadeva süri (Candra-Kharatara gaccha) in his Pancalaka-vrtti, in S. 1125/A.D. 1069 by Jinacandra sūri (Kharatara gaccha) in his Samvegarangalala, in S. 1139/A.D. 1083 by Gugacandra süri (Candra-Kharatara gaccha) in his Mahavira-carita and next by Jinadatta sūri (Kharatara gaccha) in his Gayadhara-särdha-lataka. It is likewise noticed by Padmaprabha in his Kunthumatha-carita and lastly in S. 1334/A.D. 1278 by Prabhacandracarya in his Prabhavaka-carita. (The manuscripts of these works have been listed in the catalogues of the Jaina Bhandars at Jesalmer, Baroda, Ahmedabad and Patan. of these are also available in print.)
The Pañca-granthi-vyäkaraya enjoys a unique place in the history of Sanskrit grammar in that it is the first work of its kind composed in metrical style, accompanied by an auto-commentary, and that it is prior in date to the famous Siddha-Hema-Sabdanufasana of Hemacandra. Jine vara suri has noted that the extent of the work was about seven thousand flokas, and that it was completed in S. 1080/ A.D. 1024 at Jabalipura (Jalor) in Rajasthan. Possibly the title "Pañca-granthivyakarana" is given the work to suggest that the author has covered in it all the topics connected with sajñā, dhātu, gaya, uṇādi and lingānušāsana,
The Linganufasana of Buddhisägara süri, which is here edited for the first time, is not an independent work like that of Vamana or of Durgasithha. It is incorporated in the Pañcagranthi-vyäkaraṇa, in the initial 38 gathas of the second.