________________
An investigation of the earlier subject matter of ...
: 209
Namipavvajā, Kāpiliya, and Sañjayīyā etc. containing discussion of Pratyekabuddhas. Whereas some chapters like Vinayasutta, Parişahavibhakti, Samskrta, Akāmamaraṇīya, Chullaka-nirgranthīya, Dumpatraka, Bahuśrutapüjä etc. are definitely Mahāvīrabhāșita. Some of the chapters like Kesī-Gautamiya and Gaddamīya can be said as Ācāryabhāṣita. Therefore, it is beyond any doubt that from the old redaction of Praśnavyākarana, several chapters of Uttarādhyayana have been formed.
It is noteworthy that Uttarādhyayana has not been mentioned at all anywhere in Sthānānga though it has been mentioned in Samavāyanga and Nandi. As indicated earlier, Sthānānga is the only text, which denotes the most ancient form of the Jaina literature. In my opinion, before Sthānārga, Uttarādhyayana was not existent as an independent text but was a supplementary to the Pras'navyākarana.
The acceptance of Uttarädhyayana as Mahävirabhāsita cannot be proved unless we consider it as subsidiary to Pras'navyakarana. While describing the subject matter of Uttarādhyayana, it is said that Mahāvīra attained liberation when he was describing the 37th adhyayana named pradhāna after delivering sermon about 36 notasked questions (aprsta). While describing the subject matter of Pras'navyākarana, it is said that it contains the asked, unasked and partially asked and partially unasked questions. It also proves the resemblance of Pras'navyākarana and Uttarādhyayana, which tells about the unasked questions and its explanation.
Haribhadra (8th century AD) maintains in his Vritti of Āvaśyaka-niryukti that Rşibhāșita and Uttarādhyayana are one and the same. Jaina Ācāryas even up to 13th century AD believed that Rşibhāṣita was merged in Uttarādhyayana. Vidhimārgaprapā of Jinaprabhasūri clearly mentions that according to some Ācāryas, Rşibhāșita was blend together with Uttarādhyayana. If we accept Uttarādhyayana and Rşibhāṣita as one and integrated, we must consider former as first part and later as the last.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
