History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

Author(s): Hiralal R Kapadia
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

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A HISTORY OF THE CANONICAL LITERATURE OF THE JAINAS
NANDI
This work mainly indulges in the exposition of knowledge and its various classifications. It is partly in prose and partly in verse. In the beginning there are 47 verses. Out of them, the 1st is an eulogy of a Tirthankara. This is followed by two verses whereby Lord Mahāvīra is praised. Then we have 14 verses which glorify the Jaina church (Sangha) by comparing it with a city, a wheel, a chariot, a lotus, the moon, the sun, a sea and Mandara (Meru) mountain. Verses 18-19 mention the names of the 24 Tirthankaras of the present Avasarpiņi, as is done in Viāhapannatti (II, 6; S. 676). Similarly verses 20-21 supply us with the names of Lord Mahāvīra's 11 Ganadharas. In v. 22 his sāsana is extolled. Verses 23-43 form a Therāvali. Herein the following 27 saints are praised :
(1) Suhamma, (2) Jambū, (3) Pabhava, (4) Sijjambhava, (5) Jasabhadda, (6) Sambhūya, (7) Bhaddabāhu, (8) Thūlabhadda, (9) Mahāgiri, (10) Suhatthi,2 (11) Bahula, (12) Sāï, (13) Sāmajja, (14) Sandilla, (15) Jiyadhara, (16) Ajja Samudda, (17) Ajja Mangu, (18) Ajja Nandila khamana, (19) Ajja Nāgahatthi, (20) Revaïnakkhatta, (21) Bambhaddīvaga Sīha, (22) Khandila, (23) Himavanta, (24) Nāgajjuna, (25) Bhūyadinna, (26) Lohicca and (27) Dūsa Gani.
Verse 44 deals with 14 illustrations which deal with various types of pupils. It occurs as v. 1454 in Višeśão and v. 334 in Kappabhāsa. This is followed by 3 verses which point out the 3 types of the audience viz. intelligent, unintelligent and foolishly puffed up. Then we have mostly in prose a detailed exposition of the five kinds of knowledge. In the end there are 5 verses some of which occur in Višeśão, too.
Deva Vācaka, pupil of Dūsya Gaņi is looked upon as the author of this work, and some identify him with Devarddhi Gani kşamāśramana.
1. The total number of verses in this Nandi comes to 90, and that of suttas to 59. 2. "सहत्थिस्स सुद्वित-सुपडिबद्धादयो आवलीते जहा दसासुते तहा भाणियव्वा, इह तेहिं अहिगारो नत्थि ।
affia 3110city 3TR II" - Nandīcunni (pp. 6-7) 3. Some believe this to be an attribute of Sandilla.--Ibid., (p. 7) 4. He is spoken of as Slurryfafa511405 by Haribhadra Sūri in his com. (p. 16) on Nandi. 5. He is said to be an author of a grammar or Praśnavyākarana, Bhangika, and
Kammapayadi.—Ibid., p. 16-17. 6. Out of them, the 1st two may be compared with v. 366 and 367 of Kappabhāsa and
the 3rd tallies with its v. 371.