Jaina Literature form earliest time to century 10th AD

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Z_Shwetambar_Sthanakvasi_Jain_Sabha_Hirak_Jayanti_Granth_012052.pdf

Page 6

Aspects of Jainology : Volume VI
Candrakavedhyaka, Tandulavaicārika, Āturpratya- 1. Āvaśyakaniryukti, khyāna, Mahāpratyākhyāna, Maranavibhakti, mainly 2. Daśavaikālikaniryukti, concerned with the Jaina Sadhanā, are known as 3. Uttarādhyayananiryukti, Prakimakas, in general and Samadhimarana in
4. Ācārānganiryukti, particular. All these works are, undoubtedly earlier to 5. Sūtrakıtānganiryukti, the c. 4th-5th A.D.
6. Daśāśrutaskandhaniryukti, Among the non-canonical works of this 7. Kalpaniryukti and period, very few in number are extant, namely
8. Vyavahāraniryukti. Tattvärtha-sūtra and its auto-commentary (c. 3rd 4th
Apart from these, two more Niryuktis - Ogha A. D.), Paumacariya of Vimalasuri (c. 2nd-5th and Pinda are also available, but considered to be the A. D.) and Digambar works composed in Sauraseni part of Āvasyakaniryukti and Daśavaikalikaniryukti, Prāksta like Kasāyapahuda of Gunadhara (c. 4th A. respectively, hence, not independent works. We also D. ) and Şatkhandāgama of Pușpadanta Bhūtabali have a mention of two more Niryuktis on Surya( about c. 5th A. D.). Apart from these, the works of prajñapti and Rşibhāṣita, but they are extinct now. Kundakunda, Samantabhadra and Siddhasena
To conclude, we can say that more than Divākara may also be considered as the works of
hundred works could be considered to belong to this early period. Scholars differ on the exact date of com
early period but about thirty of them are now extinct. position of these works, except that of Tattvārthasütra. They date these in between c. 2nd-5th A. D.
Jaina Literature of this period
The evolution and changes occurred in Jaina Among non-canonical literature, the first
thought and practice during c. 3rd-10th A. D. is traceNiryuktis, ten in number, are of great importance.
able through its literature. For literature is the mirror These ( Niryuktis ) mainly explain the meaning of
of the cultural development of any society. The prime Jaina technical terms from the various stand-points
period of the composition of literary works of Jainism alongwith the brief account of the subject matter of
corresponds to c. 3rd-10th A. D. Almost all the imthat particular Āgama. Scholars widely differ about
portant works of Jainism were finally composed and the time and authorship of Niryuktis except that of
edited in this period. The literature, which emerged in Govindaniryukti. Some are of the opinion that these
this period, may be divided into five categories : Niryuktis are composed by Bhadrabāhu-I (c. 3rd B. C.) while others consider these to be composed by
1. Āgamas and their commentaries. Bhadrabāhu-II, the brother of Varahamihira (c. 6th
2. Philosophical works. A. D.). But in my humble opinion, as external and
3. Works related to the Jaina religious pracinternal evidences show it was neither of Bhadra
tices. bāhu-I or of Bhadrabahu-II. But, Aryabhadra of c.
4. Jaina epics and other narrative literature. 2nd-3rd A. D., in all probability, was the author of
5. Secular Literature of Jainas. these Niryuktis. I have given various reasons in 1. Āgamas and their Commentaries support of this view in my independent article As I have already mentioned that except published in Sāgara Jaina Vidyābhārati (Pārsvanātha Nandisātra and present edition of Praśnavyākarana, Vidyāpitha, Varanasi, 1994 ). Presently, we have most of the Āgamas were composed before c. 3rd A. only the following Niryuktis :
D. but their final editing had been done only in the