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Importance of The Jaina Graotha Bhandärs.
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for earliest written manuscripts, whether the manuscript is on palm leaves or on paper. The Jaina Grantha Bhandārs possess earliest written manuscripts. The earliest manuscript written on palm leaves is of Samvat 1117 i.e. 1060 A.D. The pame of the manuscript is Ogha Nirjukti Vratti composed by Dronācārya. The original book is in Prakrit while the commentary is in Sanskrit. The Prasasti of the manuscript is as follows:
सवत् १११७ मगलं महाश्री।।छ।। पाहिलेन लिखित मगल महाश्री ।।छ।।
Now we shall give some important Prasastis from the year 1060 A.D. to 1457 A. D. available in the Grantha Bhandārs of Jaisalmer and written on palm leaves.
(1) Pancasăra Prakarana Laghu Vrattı: The manuscript was written in
the year 1064 A. D. by Jasodhara It is preserved in Brihad Gyana Bhandar, Jaisalmer. The prasasti runs as under -
सवत् ११२१ ज्येष्ठ सुदि ११ बुधदिने जसोधरेण लिखितम् ।।
(2) Kuvalayamálā Kathā of Udyotan Sûri was written in the year 1082
A.D. The work is in Prakrit and has 254 folios of 254" x 2" size. In the Prasasti only name of the year has been mentioned.
सवत् ११३६ फाल्गुन वदि १ रविदिने लिखितमिद पुस्तकमिति ।
(3) Kavyādarśa of Kavi Dandt was copied in Saṁvat 1161 1. e. 1104
A. D., in the month of Bhadrapad. The manuscript is upto the third Pariccheda.
इतित्यशयकवेराचार्यदण्डिनः कृती काव्यादर्श दुकरदोषविभागो नाम तृतीय. परिच्छेद. ।। सवत् ११६१ भाद्रपदे ।
(4) Avaśyaka Nirjuttı of Bhadra Bahu in Prākrit was copied in the year
1109 A.D. by Lihavaha. Maharaji Jaya Singh Deva was the ruler at that time. The Prasasti is as follows:
सवत ११६६ पौष बूदी ३ मगलदिने महाराजाधिराजत्रैलोक्यगडश्रीजयमीघदेवविजयराज्ये लिहबेहेन लिखित ।
(5) Guru Parvādi of Palha Kavi is a manuscript of the year 1114 A.D.
written in Pattan City under the rule of Jaisingh Deva. This manuscript was copied by Brahma Candragani. This work is Apabhramba and is still unpublished. The Prasasti is as follows:
