Pravachanasara

Author(s): A N Upadhye
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

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Pravacanasāra
The Introduction is divided into Six sections. In the First section the various traditional pieces of information about Kundakunda, whether literary or epigraphic, are put together and critically evaluated. In the Second section the problem of Kundakunda's date is discussed by stating the views of earlier writers, by analysing the underlying facts, and by scrutinizing the same in the light of fresh material. The Third section is devoted to the study of Kundakunda's works; the contents of every work are analysed and critical remarks on each are added: thus attention is devoted both to the form as well as contents of each work. The Fourth section is occupied by the study of Pravacanasāra: a chronological sketch of Pravacanasārastudies is given; two recensions of the text are subjected to cri study; the contents of the work are summarised in detail; great attention is devoted to the philosophical aspects of Pravacanasāra from which the various topics are constructively set forth and studied on historical and critical lines in comparison with other systems of Indian philosophy; and lastly the monastic aspect of the work is discussed in comparison with that of Buddhism. In the Fifth section short monographs on the six commentators of Pravacanasāra are added: all the available information about them and about their works is put together; in every case, attempt has been made to settle their dates; and the quotations etc. from the commentaries of some of them are also traced to their sources. The Sixth section is devoted to the study of the Prakrit dialect of Pravacanasara: a grammatical analysis of the dialect is given; an attempt is made to define its place in the scheme of Prakrit dialects, outlining a historical and geographical back-ground of this dialect; and lastly its name and its relation to pre-classical Prakrit postulated by Dr. JACOBI are discussed. Thus it will be seen that many new facts about Kundakunda and his works are brought to light, and his place in the scheme of Jaina literature is ascertained. Originally a portion of this Introduction was covered by a series of lectures delivered by me, as a Post-graduate Teacher in Ardha-māgadhi, University of Bombay, to the M.A. students.
The philosophical aspect of Pravacanasāra, as set forth in the Introduction here, is expected to be a modest outline to introduce the student to an exhaustive study of Jaina philosophy. The time has now come, I believe, when we should no more assess the Samkhya Jaina, Buddhistic and Ājivika tenets as mere perverted continua