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
it appears that at least one work of this type must have been composed during the life-time of a Ganadhara;' for, a work dealing with exceptions to the general rules for asceticism can have its origin almost side by side with the work embodying the general code. Even then if we were to assume for the time being that such a work owes its existence to a degenerated state of affairs that may have prevailed in the Jaina clergy after the nirvana of Lord Mahāvīra, it is in no way later than the date for the Avassayanijjutti.
As recorded in the Mahānistha available at present, it is so to say a patch-work; for, several Sūris had a hand in giving it a final shape, since the Ms. of this work was awfully worm-eaten.?
It seems rather strange that even in Viyārasāra where a list of 45 Suttas (together with Pañcakappa, Jiyakappa, Pindanijjutti, Ohanijjutti, Nijjuttis, Bhāsas and Cunnis) is given, there is no mention whatsoever of Mahānisiha. Furthermore, here there is not a single work spoken of as a Cheyasutta, though the following works well-known as Cheyasuttas are noted as under :
"कप्प २५ निसीह २६ दसासुय २७ ववहरो"
Can we hereby infer that the order and the number of the Cheyasuttas were not fixed for a pretty long time ?
We may end this topic by noting one more point. Is Mahākappasuya which is mentioned in the Avassayanijjutti (v. 777), a Cheyasutta? If so, why is it not mentioned along with other Cheyasuttas such as Kappa? etc ? Besides, does not this very verse lead us to believe that at least two to three Cheyasuttas existed prior to the composition of Avassayanijjutti ?
Mülasutta - I have not come across any Prākrta or Saṁskrt work of sufficient antiquity+ except Mahānisīha (vide p. 74, fn 3) where the word Mülasutta or Mūlasuya or its Samskrt equivalent Mülasūtra occurs. Moreover, it seems that this nomenclature like that of the Cheyasutta is purely an element of the Svetambara school of thought. Further, no Jaina saint of olden
1. Can we infer from fn. 5 of p. 34 that Nistha is the oldest ? 2. See D. C. J. M. (vol. XVII, pt. II, pp. 32-33). 3. This cannot be identified with Mahakappasuya; for, the latter is ukkâliya, whereas
the former kāliya. Vide p. 23, fn. 1. 4. The late Prof. Weber in his Indische Studien (XVII, 41) has said that the term
Mūlasutra does not occur anywhere in the canon; but it is however found in Avassayanijjutti (XI, 61). But this is his slip; for there the expression mūlasuttagāhā is used in contrast with the gathās of the Nijjutti.