History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

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

Page 93

A HISTORY OF THE CANONICAL LITERATURE OF THE JAINAS
(1) It is the first work composed by each of the Ganadharas'.
(2) According to the opinion of Bhadrabāhusvämin2 and others, females owing to some of their weaknesses are not entitled for its study. Thereby it is suggested that it is not within the reach of one and all, but it is meant for the deserving few.
(3) There is not a single subject or a topic which does not come within its compass. It deals with mantras, tantras, and yantras, too.
(4) It has got ten significant names, and thus it forms a glaring exception to the rest of the Jaina scriptures.
(5) It is the very first work lost by the Jainas.
(6) Its contents are so to say preserved by the Svetāmbaras and the Digambaras as well, though they differ in some of the details.
(7) It is a splendid example of the gamika śruta.“ (8) It abounds in bhangas.?
(9) Some of the works either partially or wholly are extracted from this Ditthivāya.
As already noted on p. 6 Ditthivāya is divided into five sections viz., (1) Parikamma, (2) Sutta, (3) Puvvagaya, (4) Aņuoga, and (5) Cūliyā, out of which at least the 1st two had become extinct at least by the time Jinadāsa Gani Mahattara wrote his Cunni on Nandi.
1. For a difference of opinion see pp. 6-7. 2. "To TCE afafael Corte feugi
sfa 375 peu urait a cestui 11888I"-Kappanijjutti
This very verse occurs in Visesăvassayabhāsa as v. 552. 3. By others I mean Jinabhadra Gani, Kotyācārya, Maladhārin Hemacandra, Malayagiri
Süri, Jinadāsa Gani Mahattara and Haribhadra Sūri. 4. See fn. 3 and J. S. E. (p. 239) 5. In Āvassayacunni (pt. I, p. 35) it is said :
"बहवे दम्मेधा असत्ता दिट्रिवायं अहिज्जिङ अप्पाउयाण य आउयं ण पहप्पति, इत्थियाओ पुण पाएण तुच्छाओ गारवबहुलाओ चलिन्दियाओ दुब्बलधिईओ, अतो एयासिं जे अतिसेसज्झयणा असणोववायणिसीहमाइणो दिट्टिवातो a u fervifa " 6-7. See p. 71. 8. For their list see pp. 81, 81 and 89. 9. See p. 77, fn. 6 and See p. 78 fn. 1.