ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 550

claim that the writer belongs to their tradition. Concerning the timing, there are differences and most scholars pur the author in 2nd to 4th century AD.
1.3 Important commentaries of the Tattv rtha S tra:
It has been mentioned that sutras are very serious and full of meanings and it is difficult to understand their meanings. Therefore one has to be very cautious about it. There are many c ryas who have written commentaries on this text. There are more than 100 commentaries on it. It is difficult to talk of all of them, but let us see the following four important ones:
1. Sarv rthasiddhi: c rya Pujyap da has written this commentary in 5th century A.D. This is a very balanced commentary. All the aspects are and topics are covered in a simple manner and the later on c ryas have kept it intact and present it as it is. The following sutra expounds Pujyap da's art of writing:
Pram akalamkasya Pujyap dasya Laksa am\ dhananjayakaverkavyam Ratnatrayamapa cimam\\
2. Tattv rthav rtika: c rya Akla ka has written this commentary in 7th century A.D. In this commentary the author has help of previous commentaries and then he has elaborated those and written his commentary. At several places he has given interesting stories and anecdotes.
3. Tattvarthaslokavartika: c rya Vidhy nandi has written this commentary in 8th century A.D. This is a detailed commentary.
4. Tattv rth dhigamabh ya: The above three commentaries are written by the Digambara authors. But this is a vet mbara commentary. It is believed that the Um sv ti himself has written this commentary.
What ever may be the case, it is necessary to read and understand the commentaries to know the Tattv rtha s tra. The above commentaries are sufficient enough to know and read.
2.0 The content of Tattv rtha S tra :
We have discussed the external matter of the text. Now we will discuss the actual content of the text, which is very important from the point of Jaina philosophy. The external content is important for the historical and the social point of view. But from logical, philosophical and spiritual point of view one need not entangle in the above controversies.
2.1 Mangal cara a (Benediction):
To begin any good work it is necessary to evoke good saying of blessings and all the literary works have so. In all the works they evoke the i a devat and worship them in the benediction. In Tattv rtha S tra the following mangal carana is found:
Mok am rgasya Net ram, Bhett ram Karmabhubhrat m\ Jn t ram Visvatattv n m, vande tadgunalabdhaye\\
It means 'I bow to the qualities of that one who is the leader of the path of liberation, has eradicated the karmas and is the knower of the tattvas.'
This is a very important benediction in the Jaina philosophy, because it is not for the person but the Vitar ga- Sarvaj a (omniscient) who are the shower of the path; they are worshipped so. It is not for any worldly gains but only to attain the best qualities.
It is because of this reason that on the above verse many cryas having written elaborately. Many have also written independent works, for example, crya Vidhy nandi (7th century) has written ptaparik, Samantabhadra (2nd century) has written ptam m ms on the basis of this Verse.
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0