Collection Of Jaina Philosophical Tracts

Author(s): Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 11

INTRODUCTION
(1) Saddarśananirnaya
The text of this tract is edited on the basis of the photocopy of the manuscript belonging to Bombay Branch Royal Asiatic Society (No 1666). The ms consists of six folios. Except few lines in folio No 1 the handwriting is uniform The size of the ms, is 22 cas x 8 cms Each side of the folio has 12 or 13 lines and each line bas nearly 54 letters Lines Nos 2-3 on folio No 1A are erased. The condition of the ms is good. The ms. belongs to c 16th century of Vikrama Era At the end there occurs krtir ayam frinadañcalagaccheśaśrimerutungasūrındrānām.
This is the work of Merutungasūri of Añcalagacca He was a pupil of Mahendraprabhasūrı He composed Sanskrit Balavabodha co Katantra Vyakaranal 10 V S 1414, and Tika on Saptatıbhasya in V. S 1449. From the colophon at the end of the ms of Saptatibhasyaţika belonging to Dosabhai Bhandar, Bhavanagar we learn that he had also composed Vitti on Meghadūta and Dhalupārāyana 2
In the beginning of this small tract the author points out as to what constitutes real Brahmanahood and real Yatilood. According to him, truth (satya), penance (tapas), control of sense 'organs (indriyadama), etc. constitute Brāhmanabood Mere birth in the Brahmana family and wearing of sacred thread do not make one a Brahmana There is a possibility of Brahmanas in the Candala caste and of Candalas in the Brahmana caste. Similarly, equanimity (samata) which is the result of the conquest of narrow love and hatred is the true mark of a Yati Staying in woods, weariog bark garments, living upon fruits, leaves or flowers, abondoament of purifying agents of the body, observation of fasts, etc are merely the. accidents and not the essentials of a Yatı
After this general discussion the author explains sıx systems of Indian Philosophy, viz Bauddha, Mināmsā (alongwith Vedānta), Sarkya, Naiyayıka, Vaišesika and Jaina While dealiog with a particular system of Indian philosophy he elucidates the nature of God, spiritual teacher and religion as accepted by its theoreticians In short, he explains and examines its main philosophical theories
1 2
Bombay Branch Royal Asiatic Society No 22 Cf Jama Sāhit yano Sank şıpta Itiha n Dasai, 442