History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

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

Page 63

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THE CANONICAL LITERATURE OF THE JAINAS
is of opinion that "the Mūla-Sūtras are” as there name indicates, "intended for those who are still at the beginning (mūla) of their spiritual career."! Guérinot (La Religion Djaina, p. 79) translates Mūla-Sūtra by "tratés originaux”."
In Jaina-tattva-prakāśa (p.218) the significance of this term Mülasutra is explained as under :
If the root of a tree is strong, that tree can last long and can have a number of branches etc. Similarly the class of treatises which when studied can strengthen the root of the tree of samyaktva and make it develop into the form of the ten-fold religion for the clergy, can be designated as Mūlasutra.
On seeing that “सामाइयाई एक्कारस अंगाई अहिज्जई" occurs in Antagadadasā (12.89), Vivāgasuya (212), Nirayāvaliyā (71, 72, 186) etc., and on taking into account Avassayanijjutti, Jiyakappa and its cunni (p. 5) and Dasaveyāliyanijjutti, Dr. A. M. Ghatage in his article "The title Mülasūtra" published in The Jaina Vidyā (Vol. I, No. 1, July 1941) remarks on p. 11 :
"The expression Mülasūtra, therefore, would mean the texts which are to be studied at the beginning of the 'svādhyāya'."
For further details see p. 162, line 1.
These are the various explanations. My personal view is the same as one expressed by Prof. Schubring? and mentioned on p. 45-46.
1. This is what Prof. Schubring practically repeats in his introduction (p. III) to his edition of “Dasaveyāliya Sutta”. There he says:
"This designation seems to mean that these four works are intended to serve the Jain monks and nuns in the beginning (47) of their career....
At an early stage the monk has to become acquainted with the principal tenets and rules of the Order. To the latter belong the Āvassaga (aut.) formulas and the rules regarding the acquition of alms (raus) from which two
of the Mülasuttas derive their name." 2. It may be noted that Prof. Schubring has offered another explanation for
mūlasutta (vide p. 38). But there I differ from him.