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Curni literature. Among whole of the commentary literature Curnis hold an important place because first, they deal with the various subjects and are directly concerned with social and cultural heritage of Jainism. Secondly, they supply so many informations about the Jaina History pertaining c. 1st - 6th A.D.
Curnis were succeeded by Samskrta commentaries, written on different Agamic texts, known as Tika Vrttis or Vivaranas. Among Samskrta commentators Haribhadrasuri is the earliest, flourished in the middle of the c. 8th A.D. He wrote commentaries on Avaśyaka, Daśavaikālika, Jivabhigama, Prajñāpanā, Nandi, Anuyogadvāra and Pindaniryukti. Silankacārya, flourished in the c. 9th A.D. believed to have written several commentaries on Āgamas but unfortunately at present only two commentaries on Ācārānga and Sūtrakṛtānga are available. After Silanka, Abhayadevasuri and Śāntisuri are the prominent names among commentators. Abhayadevasuri has commented on nine of eleven Anga s except Acārānga and Sūtrakṛtānga, hence called Navangi-Vrttikara. Śantisuri has written a commentary on Uttaradhyayana Sūtra. Both of these later Samskrta commentators flourished, during c. 10th-11th A. D. This trend of commentary-writing is still current in Svetambara tradition.
In Digambara tradition, Kasayapāhuda Sutta and Satkhandagama are considered as equivalent to Agamas. These works are written in c. 4th-5th A. D. On Kasayapāhuda Sutta first commentary was written by Yatirṣabhain the form of Curni Sūtra s in c. 6th A. D. After that in c. 9th A. D. Virasena wrote two commentaries Jayadhavala and Dhavala on Kasaya-Pāhuda and Satkhandagama respectively. Mahadhavala is a commentary on the one part of Satkhandagama, written by his disciple
135 Jainism and its History
