Brief Survey of Jaina Prakrit and Sanskrit Literature Part 1

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Sanmati Tirth Prakashan Pune

Page 21

* Umāsvati's (or Umāsvāmī's) Tattvārthādhigamasūtra is an ancient text which is deeply revered and sanctified in the Jaina tradition. The work was written in the ancient classical language of Sanskrit and reflects the critical and comparative approach to religious thought that characterized the age of Umāsvāti. It is a text which is accepted as authoratative by all sects of Jainas on which the great Jaina thinkers wrote their commentaries. Its authority is definitive and undisputed. It is a compact cosmic essay on cognition and conduct, a synthesis of science and ethics in the framework of philosophy.
Umāsvāti's date, tradition and biographical details are shrouded in obscurity and the subject matter of considerable scholarly debate. We placed him in the fifth century considering that he might have fathomed the huge canonical literature of Svetāmbaras and Digambaras.
* According to Dr. Hiralal Jain, Pt. Sukhalalji Samghavi and Dr. J.C.Jain, the date of Siddhasena Divākara is around 5th century A.D. According to some other scholars, Kalyāņamandira is composed by Siddhasena pertaining to 11th century and his another name is Kumudacandra. In this matter we have followed the opinion of Pt. Sukhalalji Samghavi.
* The first Digambara commentary, Sarvārthasiddhi is written by Pujyapāda in this century, which is very much revered. Pūjyapāda expounded Yoga in his other works.
* The grammarian Pūjyapāda Devanandi is famous for his eulogies viz. Dasabhakti and Siddhapriyastotra.
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