Gandharavada

Author(s): Esther A Solomon
Publisher: Gujarat Vidyasabha

Page 16

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Śri Punyavijayaji has come to the conclusion that the Niryaktis on Avaśyakasūtra and other sacred literature are not by the first Bhadrababu who knew the Pūrvas, but by another Bhadratăhu of the 6th century of Vikrama samvat.* Still, as noted by Da'sukhbhai Malavania,t we find several gathās from the Niryuktis of Bhadiabābu in the works of Kunda kunda and cthers who were definit: ly earlier than the 6th century. It is quite likely that there was an old corpus around wbich was built the structure of the Niryuktis that we have at present.
The Cheda sūtras were definitely the 'composition of Bhadrabāhu. So tbe following Niryuktis can be assigned to Bhadrabahu I[ – Avaśyaka, Daśavaikälika, Uttarādhyayapa, Acaránga, Sūtrak’tanga, Daśāśrutaskandha, Kalpa-Běhatkalpa, Vyavabāra, Suryaprajñapti, Rşibhāşita. Bhadrabābu has himself, in his Āvašyaka Niryukti (84-85), mentioned his plan to compose these. The last two are not extant. Uvasaggabara, a Prakrit Stotra also was composed by Bhadrabahu. Many other works are assigned to him, but it is doubtful whether they were bis.
JINABHADRA AND HIS VIŠEŞĀVAŚYAKA BHASYA :
Practically nothing is known of Jinabhadra though his writings occupy a place of importance in the development of thought, and in the bistory of Jaina literature. Still we can gather a few facts about him, though, of course, one must always accept that they cannot be regarded as absolutely certain.
* See Mahāvīra Jaina Vidyalaya, Silver Jubilee Volume (p. 185).
+ See Gañadhara Vāda (in Gujarati) Introduction, p. 13 footnote. We are highly indebted to tbis Introduction. In fact, it has been the main source of the information given here. Sri Malavania being a well-versed and open-minded scholar of Jaina philosopby and literature, one can easily find a fund of information in his writings which one can only quote, but hardly improve upon.