History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

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

Page 175

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A HISTORY OF THE CANONICAL LITERATURE OF THE JAINAS
dvādaśängis composed by his own 11 Gaṇadharas.
A student conversant with the Jaina system of education knows it full well that first of all, the meaning (attha) of a sutta is explained, then is given an explanation associated with Nijjutti, and this is followed by a detailed exposition which is not necessarily confined to what is explicitly expressed in the sutta. It seems a similar process must have been followed at least by the 11 Gaṇadharas of Lord Mahāvīra. This means that several types of literature may have been then evolved. We do not know precisely what their natures must have been. Equally ignorant we are regarding their generic name and specific names, too, if any. For, the very first type of the Jaina explanatory works on the Agamas which form a part of our valuable legacy, is known as Nijjutti in Prākṛta and Niryukti in Samskṛta, and that its authorship is attributed to Bhadrabahusvāmin, caramasayalasuyanāṇi who died in Vira Samvat 170. He has composed 10 Nijjuttis. But we do not know their specific names except those like Avassayanijjuti etc., coined by taking into account the work of which it is the Nijjutti. Further, we do not know the exact dates of their composition. All the same, we may say almost with certainty that none of them is composed after Vira Samvat 170. This date is at times questioned on the ground of anachronisms etc.2 But this does not seem to be justifiable; for, these anachronisms are in all probability due to the procedure adopted at the time of the Redaction of the Jaina canon, and further the question of salutation to himself and the like are an outcome of the sweet confusion due to the intermixture of some of the verses of the Bhasa with those of the Nijjutti. As a corroborative evidence of the latter fact, it may be mentioned that in the Avassayanijjuti one comes across at least some verses belonging to its Bhāsa (vide p. 177). Same is the case with Dasaveyāliyanijjutti. In its edition (having Haribhadra Sūri's com.,) its learned editor has pointed out that 63 verses of Bhāsa have been incorporated in this Nijjutti. See p. 278 of this edn. That some of the verses of the Bhasa on Kappa have got mixed up with those of its Nijjutti, is a remark made by Malayagiri Sūri in his commentary (p. 2) on this Kappa. There he has observed that it is well-nigh impossible to separate these two elements. It may be further noted that Pañcakappa which is an offshoot of
1. See J. S. E. (p. 223)
2. By etc., are meant salutation to Bhadrabähusvāmin to himself and the like. As an example of this salutation the following verse occurring in Daśäsuyakkhandhanijjutti may be here noted:
।
"वंदामि भहबाहुं 'पाईणं' चरमसयलसुयनाणि । सुत्तस्स कारगमिलि दसासु कप्पे य ववहारे || १ ||" See D. C. J. M. (vol. XVII, pt. II, pp. 70 and 259). See also p. 14, fn. 1.