Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canons

Author(s): Jagdishchandra Jain
Publisher: New Book Company

Page 41

THE CANONS OF THE JAINS
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an evidence to prove their authenticity. The commentators have frequently quoted the differences of opinions (kecil) and wherever they have failed to give satisfactory explanation of the texts they have had recourse to the authority of the older tradition (sampradāyagamya) or the words of an omniscient being (kevalın).
The exegetical literature which includes some of the important commentaries such as the Brhatkalpa Bhāsya, and its Vrtti, the Vyavahāra Bhäsya and its Vivarana, the Nisitha Cúrni, the Avasyaka Cūrni, and the commentaries on the Avasyaka and Uttarādhyayana, is undoubtedly a mine of rich treasure in itself. In these works we come across various customs and beliefs prevalent in those days in different parts of India, various feasts and festivals, religious sects, wandering ascetics, descriptions of famine, robbers and dacoits, the inaccessible roads, mountains and deserts, economic production, industry, trade-routes, dress, ornaments, food, and various other matters of importance, which have nothing to do with religion as such, but are of general interest to the man on the street. The commentary literature is also important from the point of view of the voluminous and comprehensive narrative literature that it contains. According to Dr. Winternitz, many a gem of the narrative art of ancient India has come down to us by way of the Jaina commentary and narrative literature, which would otherwise have been consigned to oblivion 89 The commentary literature like the canonical literature is also important from the point of view of the history of Indian languages. The canonical literature and its earliest commentaries are written in Prākrta language, which is very useful in tracing the history of the modern Indian vernaculars.
The commentarial literature on the Canons consists of four parts, viz., (1) Nizjuttz, (2) Bhāsa, (3) Gunni, and (4) Tika ; including the Canons this literature is known as Pancāngi or consisting of the five parts.
(1) NIJJUTTI The oldest explanatory literature on the sacred texts is represented by Nzjuttis which consists of a very concise explanation in verses. These Nujuttus contain a number of historical or legendary tales elucidating Jain doctrines and moral or disciplinary rules given in the Jain Canons. The Nijuttis were probably memorial verses which were learnt by heart by the teachers who used them in their oral interpretation of the Canons. 40 It is suggested that since the Nujuttrs are aboslutely unintelligible without the support of the commentary, there must have been an extensive commentary where all tales and legends referred to in Nujuttus must have been told at length. But unfortunately we have no means of ascertaining the existence and nature of these hypothetical commentaries
89 abrd, p. 487.
40 Winternitz, op. cit., P. 483 , cf. Nirultz in Pali, a work on exegesis, ascribed to Maha Kaccāyana, ard divided into two parts: Cala nrutt and Maha arutle, Malalasekara, Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, Vol. II, p. 79.
41 Jarl Charpentier, op. cit., p. 50 f,