History of Jaina Monachism

Author(s): S B Deo
Publisher: Deccan College Research Institute

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S. B. DEO
Types of Commentaries :
The vast exegetical literature consists of four principal types. They are the Nijjutti, the Bhāsa, the Cunni and the Țikā. The characteristics of each type and their probable periods may be discussed as follows: (a) The Nijjutti:
This group of commentaries may be said to form the earliest existing type of exegetical literature. From the fact that some of the Nijjuttis were included in the Canon itself as finally settled in the Valabhi Council, we may say that Jaina monks had already started to write such explanatory literature before the sixth century A.D. Their Nature :
The Niryuktis, in many cases, are unintelligible without the help of commentaries (bhāşya) for they contain references which are merely suggestive. Sometimes they briskly pass over from one topic to another by mentioning merely key-words. “The Niryukti is in its main parts only a sort of an index, a collection of versus memorials meant to give an abbreviation of an extensive commentary, where all these tales and legends are told
לדיי.at length
Their Importance :
Inspite of their summary style, the Niryuktis are important from many other considerations. They contain lot of material regarding various schools and sects,78 schisms,79 historical and legendary persons,80 ecclesiastical history81 and rules of monastic discipline 82 All this matter is useful in the history of Jaina monachism. Niryuktis Available :
Besides the Pinda and the Ogha Niryuktis, we have Niryuktis available on ten texts of the Canon. They are the Niryuktis on:
(i) Acārānga. (ii) Sūtrakrtānga. (iii) Uttarādhyayana.
77. CHARPENTIER, Uttar. Intr., pp. 50-51. 78. Sutraks-N. vs. 33-35, 86-121. 79. Avaśyaka-N. vs. 779-80.
80. Sutraky-N. ref. to Jamāli v. 125; Abhaya v. 57; Sreņika v. 57; Govinda Vācaka in Dśv.-N. v. 81; Sthulabhadra Uttar-N. 91-100; Vajraswami. Avaśyaka-N. 764-773.
81. Same as Ref. 79 and 80 above.
82. Daśaśruta-N. vs. 60-86 regarding rain-retreat; Types of death in Uttar-N, 212-34