Collected Research Papers in Prakrit and Jainology Vol 02

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: University of Pune

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appreciate the text in better manner. I think it is necessary for a researcher to review his own writings, particularly edited manuscripts time to time. I wish to highlight this point in this seminar on manuscriptology.
Importance of this manuscript
Bappabhatti is a historic legendary figure in Jaina tradition. Prabhācandra aptly says,
बप्पभट्टिर्भद्रकीर्तिर्वादिकुञ्जरकेसरी ।
ब्रह्मचारी गजवरो राजपूजित इत्यपि ।।1 Eminent academicians like (Dr.)S.K.Ayyangar, A.N.Uapadhye, V.Krishnnammacarya, H.R.Kapdiya, S.P.Pandit, N.B.Utagikar, N.G.Suru, H.C.Bhayani and many others have discussed a lot about the date, personality and biography of Bappabhatti. The friendly relationship between Vākpatirāja (author of Gaudavaho) and Bappabhatti is discussed at length by these scholars. The account of defeating the Bauddha Bhiksu Vardhanakuñjara in Vādasabhā with the help of Vākpatirāja, is quite interesting in the narratives of Bappabhatti. With the help of these scholarly
discussions, we can say in short that Bappabhatti lived during the later half of the 8th century and in the first half of the 9th century. He was from Modherakapura (mod. Modheră in Gujrat). This Svetāmbara Ācārya continued the lineage of Jaina monks which was famous as Modheragaccha. Due to Bappabhatti's various qualities as mentioned above, he influenced the king Ama of Kānyakubja and king Yasovarmā or Yasodharmā of Lakşaņāvati in Gauda region. Both the kings
accepted Jaina faith and the spread of Jainaism was quite remarkable in their regions. During 11th
and 12" century Bappabhattisūri become a legendary figure. From 13th century onwards Bappabhatti got honourable position in the Jaina Prabandha Literature written in Sanskrit. Here we may mention Prabhācandra, Rājasekhara, Jinaprabha, Pradyumna, Samayasundara, Ravivardhana and so on. In these Prabandhas, the authors added many myths and miraculous incidents created by their imagination while picturising the life-history of Bappabhatti.
Many eminent scholars who endeavored in Jaina studies had noted ample literary sources about Bappabhatti, but nobody has mentioned this small biography in manuscript form; not even in their notes. So I felt that it is very important to throw a light on this small manuscript - the shortest biography among the available ones, noting down the important incidents in Bappabhatti's life.
Bappabhattisūri, king Ama and king Dharma are the central characters in this narrative. The love-hate-love relationship of Ama with Bappabhatti increases curiosity in the reader. The Svetāmbara-Digambara controversy is discussed in gāthās 210 up to 228. This issue is a separate subject of a research paper.
Some Examples of Editing Single Manuscript
According to the ideal norms, it is always desired to prepare a critical edition of a text, with the help of three or at least two manuscripts. The critical edition of Mahābhārata, prepared by
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