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2. TATTVARTHA SUTRA
THE AUTHOR Of Tattvârtha Sûtra is the most famous disciple of the universally worshipped saint Kundakunda. The relationship between Kundakunda and Umâsvâmi is established by inscription No. 108, written in 1365 Śâka and found at Śrâvana Belgola in Mysore. (Cf. Siddhânta Bhâskara Nos. 2 and 3, pp 117 and 122; also No. 4, p. 51. Also the Gurvâvalî in Pâṇḍavapurâṇa, by Śrî Subha Chandra about 1600 Vikrama Samvat.)
As Kundakunda was a Griddhapichcha, so his disciple Umâsvâmi also was called one. For in some MSS. of Tattvârtha Sûtra a sloka is found appended in the end:
तत्त्वार्थ सूत्रकर्त्तारं गृद्धपिच्छोपलक्षितम् । वंदे गरणीन्द्र संयातम् उमास्वामि मुनीश्वरम् ।।
The age of Kundakunda and Umâsvâmi is well-established. The tradition is universal and is adverted to in all Jaina books found in Jaina Libraries all over. Old written MSS. in the bhaṇḍâras of Jaipur and Idar also bear it out. (See also Indian Antiquary Vol. XXI, mentioned in Bhâskara No. 4., pp. 78 and 204).
The age is so correct according to the tradition of Jainism that the works of these two Great Saints command universal acceptance and reverence, both from the Svetâmbaras and Digambaras.
Our revered author Śrî Umâsvâmi flourished A. V. 714-798. If Lord Mahâvîra attained Nirvâna in 527 B. C., then Umâsvâmi lived 135-219 A. D. This is roughly the tradition. Anyhow, Tattvârtha Sûtra is a very old book, more than 1700 years old. It falls at the very opening of the period when the great omniscient successors of Vîra disappeared, and the later Pontiffs began to rise. Thus, as to date, its place is in the second half of the first millennium after Vîra.
As to the 4 Divisions of Jaina Literature: Cosmology, History, Philosophy and Ritual, Tattvârtha Sûtra has its place in Philosophy (Dravyânuyoga).
As to the old non-extant Literature, Tattvârtha Sûtra has descended from the sixth Anga, Jñâtridharmakathâ, and the second Pûrva, Agrâyinî.
As to extant Literature, it is nearly at the end of the submerged tradition of Vîra and Gautama's Word (about 600 B. c.), of the wisdom of the two Bhadrabahus (400 B. C.), and then forms the first glorious successor of the great works of Kundakundâchârya (100 A. D.), and then looks forward about the same distance of time ahead to the learned and lucid Prâkrit Gâthâs of Śrî Nemichandra Siddhânta Chakravarti. (1000 A. D.).
Jain Education International
The book contains only 10 short chapters, but its value is in inverse proportion to its size. It is revered both by the Digambara and Svetâmbara sections of the Jaina community. The whole of Jaina philosophy is taught in it.
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