History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

Author(s): Hiralal R Kapadia, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

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THE CANONICAL LITERATURE OF THE JAINAS
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.1 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 Āgamas which form a part of our valuable legacy, is known as Nijjutti in Prakṛta and Niryukti in Samskṛta, and that its authorship is attributed to Bhadrabāhusvāmin, caramasayalasuyanāṇi who died in Vira Samvat 170. He has composed 10 Nijjuttis. But we do not know their specific names except those like Avassayanijjutti 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 cannon, 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 Āvassayanijjutti one comes across at least some verses belonging to its Bhāsa (vide p. 184). Same is the case with Dasaveyaliyanijjutti. In its edition (having Haribhadra Suri'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 Bhāsa on Kappa have got mixed up with those of its Nijjutti, is a remark made by 1. See The Jaina System of Education (p. 223).
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2. By etc., are meant salutation of Bhadrabahusvamin to himself and the like. As an example of this salutation the following verse occurring in Dasasuyakkhandhanijjutti may be here noted:
"वंदामि भद्दबाहुं 'पाईणं' चरमसयलसुयनाणिं । सुत्तस्स कारगमिसिं दसासु कप्पे य ववहारे ||१|| " See D C G C M (vol. XVII, pt. II, pp. 70 and 259). See also p. 17, fn. 2.