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A critic of the available descriptions of the subject matter of Praśnavyākaraņa
In my opinion there have been three possible editions of the subject matter of Praśnavyākaraņa. Rşibhāsita, Ācāryabhāşita and Mahāvīrabhāșita would have been the main subject matter in the first and earliest sacrament which was designated as 'Vāgaraña'. There is a reference indicating the similarity of the subject matter of Vāgaraņa (Vyākaraña) with Rșibhāșita. It proves its very existence in the ancient period (3rd or 4th century B.C) and the relationship between Praśnavyākaraṇa and Rşibhāsita.
In Sthānānga-sūtra, Praśnavyākaraņais classified under tenth chapter (daśas). This classification probably was made before the conception of eleven Argas or twelve Ganipițakas. The five TextsUpāsakadaśā, Antakrtadasā, Praśnavyākaraṇadaśā, Anuttaraupāpatikadaśāand Vipākadaśā of the Āgamic literature were counted in ten Daśās. Out of these Daśās, putting aside the aforesaid five and Acāradaśā known at present as Daśāśrutaskandha, the rest four Bandhadaśā, Dvigrddhidaśā, Dirghadaśā and Sarkṣepadaśā are not available. It is noteworthy that out of the available six Daśās the subject matter of Upāsakadaśā and Ayāradasā is almost identical with the available subject matter as given in Sthānārga. There are certain similarities and dissimilarities regarding subject matter of Karmavipāka and Anuttaraupapātikadaśā, whereas the subject matter of Praśnavyākaraṇadaśā has undergone complete transformation. The subject matter as indicated in Sthānāngaseems to be the oldest edition for we do not find any sign of interpolation of matter on occult sciences in its contents. In my opinion out of the ten chapters of Praśnavyākarana as indicated in Sthānānga, only Isibhasīyāim, Āyariyabhāsiyāim and Mahāvīrabhāsiyāim seem to be ancient. What were the contents of Uvamāand Samkhā, is not ascertained. However, I particularly feel that the knowledge pertaining to the Jaina religion would have been preached through some allegories in "Uvamā Because in Jñātādharmakathā it has been explained through the allegories of
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