Collected Research Papers in Prakrit and Jainology Vol 02

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

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Re-interpretation of the 'Mithyāśruta-Passage' in Nandi
(A Paper presented in the International Conference organized by JU-CMS, Banglore on 24
January 2012)
A Rationale for Choosing the Subject
The present Indian Culture is the outcome of three major (viz. Hinduism, Jainaism and Buddhism) and countless minor thought-currents, influencing each other from thousand of years uptill now. In order to fulfil the purpose of this conference i.e "to enrich the academic and intellectual content to open up new vistas of research," an attempt is made to re-interpret the *mithyasruta-passage' in 'Nandisutra'- traditionally known as 'cülikā-sūtra'- an Ardhamāgadhi canonical text.
Why this particular passage ?
Around twelve years ago, in the syllabus of a Jainaological Institute, Bhagavadgītā, Pātañjalayoga and Dhammapada were introduced for the comparative study. When opinions of the traditional Jaina teachers (popularly called 'swadhyayees') were asked. Surprisingly most of them opposed firmly to study these texts. A passage of Nandīsūtra was shown to me where Mahābhārata, Pātañjala and Buddhavacana were designated as 'mithyāśrutas' viz. 'heretical texts'.
During last twelve years, I fumbled several times at this passage and also at the similar passage in Anuyogadvāra. It felt very odd for me to stamp many renowned non-Jaina texts as mithyāśruta, a spirit indeed not congruent with the non-absolutistic and all-inclusive nature of Jainaism. Thus this research article is a natural outcome of the efforts to re-interpret this ancient text in the light of non-absolutism.
About Nandi in short
Nandi is chronologically a later Ardhamāgadhi text ascribed to Devavācaka' or Devardhigani
of the 5th century A.D. It's language is a specimen of old Jaina Mahārāstrī rather than Ardhamāgadhi. In the histories of Prakrit Literature, it is told that Nandīsūtra was written and included in the Agamas at the third (or fourth) conference of Jaina monks, held at Valabhi (466 A.D.). Nandi presents the Epistemology of Jainas in consolidated manner using contemporary terminology of Nyāya, suggesting the dawn of Nyāya-yuga on Jaina horizon.
The list of important texts presented in the concerned passage of Nandi is very enlightening for any Indologist. The whole passage runs likewise:
से किं तं मिच्छसुयं ? जं इमं अण्णाणिएहि मिच्छद्दिट्टीहिं सच्छंदबुद्धि-मतिवियप्पियं, तं जहा - भारहं (१) रामायणं (२) zvinylcd (?) Hilfsgi (x) HTHE47377 () asya (8) Auf () 71 (?) YE() #114A (8) aşefuzi (30) 9924 () afedi () Holcs () Rd () afsta (24) HIGI () gervi (26) aprvi (8C) MEI (१९) अहवा बावत्तरिकलाओ चत्तारि य वेदा संगोवंगा ।
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