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Rishibhashit: A Study
3. The most important point against accepting Rishimandal (Isimandal) as a work by Dharmaghosh-suri is that there is a mention of 'Isimandalatthu in Acharanga-churni. This ascertains that some work of this name was certainly seen by the author of the churni of Acharanga. The author of Acharanga-churni is believed to be Jindasgani Mahattar. Scholars have deduced his period to be Vikaram 650 to 750. Nandichurni mentions its writing period as Shaka 598 which is Vikram 733. Which means that Acharanga-churni must also be of the same period. This proves that 'Isimandalatthu' must be a work of a period earlier to this or of the sixth century, at least Scholars have accepted the period of Bhadrabahu (second), the author of Niryuktis as same. Here the other possibility is that Bhadrabahu promised of writing Rishibhashit Niryukti, but later, he himself wrote Isimandalatthu instead. What was the actual content of Isimandalatthu', is difficult to say today.
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4. Another problem in accepting Rishimandal to be a work by Dharmaghosh-suri is that all the copies of Rishimandal do not contain the last verses in which the name of Dharmaghosh-suri as its author is mentioned. The Rishimandal vritti with Gujarati translation, published by Jain Vidyashala, Ahmedabad, also does not contain this verse. In the copies believed to be written by Dharmaghosh-suri, as mentioned in the catalogues of Jaisalmer and Khambhat collections, there is difference in total number of verses. Some copies mention 208 and 210 verses and others 225 and 233 verses.
Not only this, there is also a clearly evident difference in number of verses available in the published editions of Rishimandal stava. example:
For
a)
Rishimandal Vritti-with Vritti by Shubh Vardhan-suri, published by Jain Vidyashala, Doshiwada Pole, Ahmedabad in 1925, has 205 verses. Here the author is not mentioned as Dharmaghosh-suri.
b) Jain Stotra Sandoh-published by Prachin Jain Sahityoddhar Granthavali, Sarabhai Manilal Navan, Ahmedabad, in 1832, has 209 verses. Here the author is mentioned as Dharmaghosh Sraman.
c) Rishimandal Prakaran--with Vritti by Padmanandi, published by Seth Pushpachandra Kshemchandra, Valad via Ahmedabad in 1939, has 217 verses, the author is mentioned to be Dharmaghosh Saman.
All this conveys that the Rishimandal, believed to be written by Dharmaghosh-Suri has differences in the available editions. Also, there
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