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Title: Mahāniśīthasūtra (Skt).
Content: Eight adhyayanas, the last two termed culiyās, 4 544 granthas (JRK, 304a). "[R]ules regarding confession and penance, which are emphasized as the most important steps towards liberation" (Winternitz 1933:2, 465). The text is ethical and disciplinary and includes legends (Schubring 1944, 40). The Prakrit is degenerate and the tradition faulty (Schubring 1935 §52). H. R. Kapadia suggests that the Gacchāyāra (Prakīrṇaka) is based on material found in the fifth adhyayana here (BORI Cat. 17:2, 30). The work is of comparatively late composition, c. 7th cent. CE (Schubring MahaNis.study.1918; MahaNis.partial edition.1963, 1, 172; 1951). Renou notes that it is a text in mixed Ardha-Magadhī and Māhārāṣṭrī (L'Inde classique 1953:1, 82).
References: Schubring 1935 §52; Winternitz 1933:2, 465; JRK, 304a; Devendra Muni 1977, 404-41.
Exegesis:
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Editions: 1981
1994
7.5 MAHANISIHA (MahaNis.)
Cūrṇi (JRK, 304b).
Alapaka (JRK, 304b).
Tabbā (BORI Cat. 17:2, 36).
J. Deleu comments that the Tabba of his MS of this text is of no help, its text is of later constitution and transmits corruptions of later versions (MahaNis. 1963, 7-8).
*[Press-copy edition of MahaNis. edited by Vijayendra Suri of the Tapa-gaccha, prepared by Muni Jinendravijaya Gani at Jamnagar] Lakhā-bāval, Santipuri, Saurashtra, Vīra sam. 2507 [1981]. 240 p. (Śrī-Harṣa-puṣpāmṛta-Jaina-granthamala; 77). [Tripathi, MahaNis. 1994, 13]
"A limited xerox edition" (R. Pagariya, MahaNis. 1994, [2]). Used for the edition of 1994.
Mahānisīha-suya-khandham / sampadaka Punyavijayaji; Rūpendrakumāra Pagariyā. Jarmani mem Mahānisīha ke adhyayana aura sampadana kī eka sarvekṣaṇa riporta ke satha: prastutakarta Candrabhāla Tripātḥī. Ahmadābāda: Prakṛta-grantha-pariṣada, 1994. 73, 157, 41 p. ; 28 cm. (Prakṛta-grantha-pariṣad granthānka; 29).
Contents: Foreword / H. C. Bhayani [1].-Preface / Rupendrakumar Pagariya [2].— [Mahānisīha studies and edition in Germany / Candrabhal Tripathī] [1]-73.— Mahānisīha-suya-khandham 1-157.- Mahāniśīthasūtra gāthā sūcī [1]-18.-Višeṣa nāma sūcī [19]-20.-Mahānisīha sabda sūcī [21]-41.-Śuddhipatraka.
The text "fills gaps left by Schubring in his edition .. but also offers some better readings" (p. 2) and has been established on the basis of nine MSS (1) Lā. Śrī Lāvaṇyavijayajiyati Jñanabhaṇḍāra, Radhanapur; (2) Palm-leaf of samvat 1454, Sanghavi Pādā Bhaṇḍār, Patan 111 folios; (3) Kham. Śrī Śāntinātha Jaina Jñānabhāṇḍār, Cambay, no. 35, 243 folios; (4) Su. Acaryaśrī Sāgaraji Mahārāja Jñānabhaṇḍār, Surat; (5) "a manuscript copy of Mahāniśītha corrected by Vijayamitrānanda Suri"; (6-8) three MSS copies of the MahaNis. from the L. D. Institute, Ahmedabad; (9) MSS of Khartaragaccha Śrī Jinakuśala Sūri Jñanabhaṇdār, Ahmedabad- and three printed editions (1) Sa. "Šīlapaṭṭastha MahaNis. edited by Anandasagara Sūri" [ie the 1941 or 1942 Āgamaratnamañjuṣā;" (2) MahaNis.Partial editions 1951 and 1963; (3) "MahaNis. edited by Tapagacchiya Acarya Vijayajinendra Sūri. Harṣapuṣpāmṛta Jaina granthamālā, Lakhanbāvalā (a limited xerox edition)." Described on p. [2].
Partial editions: 1876
RW
Śrī Sumati Nagilā caritra tathā sañjātāsañjāta ane gaccha ke gacchano adhikara. Amadāvāda: Ranachoḍalāla Gangārama, samvat 1933 [1876]. 155 p. ; 25 cm.
MahaNis.Sections 4 (and 5?) (Schubring 1933 §52).
Contents: Prastāvanā [1]-6.—Anukramaņikā [7-8]. [Text] [1]–155.
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