Book Title: Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra
Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
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APPENDICES: PRIORITY BETWEEN YOGASASTRA AND JNANARNAVA
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script was the first copy or Prathamadarsa of the author and the supposition of a prior Subhacandra as the author is quite redundant as there is nothing to support it except a mere doubt arising from an omission which may be accidental. Further, we do not think that the mention of Subhacandra himself being the author in the colophon recording Jahini's gift of the manuscript which is stated to have been got written for him is so material as to warrant the kind of inference drawn by Pt. Premiji. The proper date of Jñānārṇava would therefore be circa 1254 Vikrama era. Hemacandrācārya the author of Yogasastra having died in 1229 Vikrama era it would be clear that Yogasastra was written earlier than Jñānārṇava. Its probable date is about 1216 as it is referred to in Trişaṣṭhisalakāpuruşacaritra written between 1216 and 1229 Vikrama era. Before going further into this question, we would tell the readers that this question is being discussed because in Yogasãstra there are several verses which practically agree verbatim with some verses in the first chapter of Anubhavasiddhamantradvātrimšikā and the same verses appear in Jñānārṇava apparently paraphrased.
All the three works describe Mantras for achieving various worldly objects as also for attaining final beatitude. Compare vv. 1, 4 and 6,I, Anubhavasiddhamantra-dvātrimsika with vv. 31, 43 and 44, VIII, Yogasastra and vv. 36-37 and 60-61 XXXVIII, Jñānārṇava. Srï Hemacandrācārya in his own commentary on the said verse 31 says that contemplation on 'Om' as of yellow and other colours is described as it may be sometimes useful. Sri Subhacandrācārya in v. 4, XL, Jñānā. says that the best of sages have published many 'Karmas' from Vidyanuvada (i. e. X Pūrva) to satisfy the curiosity of people though they are achieved only through malignant Dhyana. Mantras and Vidyas for achieving laudable objects are considered to be part of
Both Dr. Buhler and Rasiklal C. Parikh the learned author of the Introduction to Kävyânusasana consider the date of Yogaśästra to be shortly after 1216 Vikrama era and that of the commentary on it a few years later.
