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
author says that he will compose the Nijjutti of suyanāņa, and in the subsequent two verses he mentions 10 works of which he intends to compose Nijjuttis. He then commences Sāmāïyanijjutti. There he discusses the relative importance of knowledge and character, and deals with upaśamaśreni', kşapakaśreni, niksepas of anuyoga, and methods of exposition. This is followed by uddesa etc., which form 26 entrances of Uvagghāyanijjutti. Then is depicted the life of Lord Mahavira wherein incidentally there is mention of 7 Kulakaras and 4 types of niti. The life of Lord Rsabha, too, is here narrated.
Vuddhavaravariyā - This section consists of about 348 verses. On examining the edition of Malayagiri Sūri's commentary, it can be said that verses 243-2603 of the Avassayanijjuti along with v. 33-111 of its Bhāsa make up this section. The latter verses cannot be legitimately looked upon as the pertinent portion. Even then, so far as the contents are concerned, I shall not neglect them. This section commences with the details about the dīksās of the 24 Tirthankaras. It, too, deals with the life of Lord Rsabha. It refers to the origin of the Veda (v. 366). It ends by giving some details about the life of Lord Mahāvīra, such as his donation, his renouncing the world and his going to Karmāragrāma.
On a cursory examination of the contents of this section and the preceding one, I am tempted to believe that only one of them and probably the former rightly constituted the Avassayanijjuti, and that the latter one which is more extensive than the former, is a later product subsequently incorporated therein probably at the time of the Redaction of the Jaina canon. This surmise is supported by another name of Vuddhavaravariyā.
Uvasagga - As this word suggests, this section consisting of about 70 verses, deals with various terrible hardships experienced by Sramana Mahāvīra till he attained omniscience.
Samosarana - This section comprises about 69 verses, in case the portion dealing with various penances of Lord Mahāvīra given in the beginning is here included. Otherwise it consists of about 48 verses which describe the samosaraņa.
Ganahara – This section having about 65 verses, deals with the doubts of the 11 Ganadharas of Lord Mahāvīra and their removal by the latter.
1-2. These are respectively the subsidential and destructive ladders useful for spiritual
advancement. 3. After verse 415 we have vs. 1-17 dealing with the intervals between every two
Tirthankaras out of 24. Similarly there are vs. 1-4 following v. 418. 4. Herein there are 14 interpolated verses, See D. C. J. M. (Vol. XVII, Pt. III, p. 394).