Nandisutt and Anuogaddaraim

Author(s): Devvachak, Aryarakshit, Punyavijay, Dalsukh Malvania, Amrutlal Bhojak
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 174

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included by the Digambaras in the karaṇānuyoga, and further, in the parikarma of the Dṛṣṭivada. They are even included in the list of the Agamas compiled in the Nandisutra. Hence these two works might have been very old-belonging to the period before the Schism. If they are on this account placed before the commencement of Christian Era, one should raise no objection. An internal evidence that corroborates this view is that its astronomical subject-matter (jyotis) follows the old Vedic tradition. The extant text of the Candraprajñapti is identical with that of the Suryaprajñapti. This suggests that the Candraprajñapti might have become extinct before long.
Regarding the five upanga works Nirayāvali, etc. it can be said that originally these five works alone constituted the entire upanga class; the mention of the other works as upangas is not as old as the Agamas. Hence it is quite probable that they were the ārātīya works, that is, the works of the acaryas who flourished immediately after Lord Mahāvīra. On the basis of this consideration they should be placed in the period of 200 years after Mahavira Nirvāṇa. Even the fact that they are considered to be Kalika works suggests their antiquity. The Jambudvipaprajñapti too has found place in the list of kalika works, presented in the Nandisutra. And the Digambaras have included it in the parikarma of the Dṛṣṭivada. All this goes to prove that it should have been composed before the Schism.
The subject-matter of the Rajapraśniya tallies with that of the Payasisutta of the Dighanikaya. If this point is borne in mind and if Keśi Śramaņa of this Sutta and Keśi Śramaņa who enters into discussion with Gautama were the same person then one can easily conclude that the Rajapraśniya should have been composed by some ācārya who flourished just after the death of Lord Mahāvira. Hence it should be considered to be as old as the Daśavaikälika, that is, it could never belong to a period later than the fourth century before the commencement of Vikrama Era.
The Aupapātika and the Jivabhigama-these two Upangas are mentioned in the Nandi list of the utkalika works. This fact and their subject-matter suggest that they were most probably composed in the period immediately following that of the composition of the Daśavaikälika-that is, in the period when the ārātīya ācāryas attempted to make the subject-matter of the Angas systematic and regular by composing prakaraṇas. Again, the fact that they have been regarded as the Upangas in relation to the Angas proves the early age of their composition. The Dasa, the Kalpa and the Vyavahära which are included in the Cheda class are well known as the works of Bhadrabāhu. Hence the period of their composition is