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RISHI-BHASHIT : A STUDY
The Place of Rishibhashit in Jain Literature :
Rishibhashit is one of the oldest works in Ardhamagadhi Jain canonical literature. Under the accepted system of classification of Jain canons, this is classified as Prakeernaka (anthology). The Digambar tradition has 12 Angas & 14 Angabahyas, but Rishibhashit is not included in them. The Terapanthi and Sthanakvasi sects of the Swetambar tradition also do not include Rishibhashit in the 32 Agamas they recognise. The idol worshiping sect of the Swetambar tradition recognises 45 Agamas including 11 Angas, 12 Upangas, 6 Chhedsutras, 4 Moolsutras, 2 Chulikasutras and 10 Prakeernakas; Rishibhashita is not included even in these 10 Prakeernakas. However, it is included in the list of Kaliksutras mentioned in Nandisutra and Pakkhisutra.1 The Angabahya works listed in Tattvarthabhashya of Acharya Umaswati first mention six works including Samayik and then Dashvaikalika, Uttaradhyayan, Dasha (Achardasha), Kalp, Vyayahar, Nisheeth and Rishibhashit2. Haribhadra in the Vritti of Avashyak Niryukti mentions Rishibhashit once with Uttaradhyayans and at another place with an anthology titled Devinduthuya.4 The reason for this confusion may be that besides Rishibhashit Haribhadra also came accross Rishimandal Stava which gets a mention in Acharanga churni. His intension must have been to connect Rishibhashit, Uttaradhyayan, and Rishimandal Stava with Devinduthuya. It should be noted that Rishimandal not only mentions many of the Rishis (ascetics) of Rishibhashit but also refers to chapters and contents therein. This indicates that the author of Rishimandal must have been aware of and had studied Rishibhashit. The similarity between these two works is so much that with a little variation in sequence and names almost all Rishis of Rishibhashit can be found in Rishimandal. The mention of Rishimandal in Acharanga churni (Isinamakittanam Isimandalatthan, page 374) conclusively establishes that it predates Acharanga churni (7th century A. D.). Scholars should give a serious thought to this fact. It is believed that Rishimandal was written by
Note : For foot-notes please refer to the foot notes of original Hindi text,
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