Book Title: Rushibhashit Sutra
Author(s): Vinaysagar, Sagarmal Jain, Kalanath Shastri, Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
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Visheshavashyak-Bhashya88 and Avashyak-churni89. The Acharanga commentary by Sheelankoo also has a mention of Pushpashala. In Avashyak-churni Pushpshal has been mentioned at two places. One Pushpshal was a resident of Gobar village and the other of Vasantapur. The Pushpashal of Vasantpur has no connection with Pushpshalputra of Rishibhashit, as he has been stated to be a musician. But the Pushpshalputra of Gobar village is same as that of Rishibhashit. The reason for this is also that in Avashyak-churni Pushpashal of Gobar village has been stated as a person devoted to public welfare. In Rishibhashit also he appears to emphasize on humility. As such they can be the same person.
The only contradiction is that Pushpshalputra of Gobar Village is supposed to be a contemporary of Mahavir, whereas the appendix to Rishibhashit shows him as a disciple of Arishtanemi. But this appendix does not appear to be correct as far as the periods are concerned. This is because here Mankhaliputra Goshalak has been mentioned as a disciple of Arishtanemi, but he was actually a contemporary of Mahavir and Buddha. On the basis of the preachings in Rishibhashit and description in Avashyak-churni we can only infer that Pushpshalputra was a thinker giving primary importance to humility.
During the period of Mahavir and Buddha there was a tradition preaching humility. In my opinion Pushpshalputra must have been a prominent Acharya of that tradition. In his preachings in Rishibhashit the direction are mainly about abandoning evil deeds like violence, libido, possessiveness, falsehood and anger, conceit etc. He says that the being who is free of evil attitudes like anger, conceit etc. and follows the conduct specified in canons gains knowledge about soul. As such in his preaching importance appears to have been given to riddance from evil and humility in conduct.
Besides Jain tradition, in Buddhist tradition also we find mention of Pushpsthavir (Fussather). In Atthakatha of Therguthao! and Apadan his preachings have been given in details. In his preachings, available in Pali literature, mostly the evil attitudes of the future monks and nuns have been detailed. As such he 160 FAYIFAT YANG
