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An investigation of the earlier subject matter of ...
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the questions related to 'naştamusticintālābhālābhasukhaduḥkhajivanamarana', etc. This description is very much similar to the description of the subject matter of Praśnavyākaraņa given by Dhavala". There are certain chapters like muști-vibhāga, nastikācakra, sankhya-pramäņa, lābha-prakaraṇa, etc. discussed in the text, which partially resembles in content with the subject matter of Praśnavyākaraṇa described in Samavāyānga>. It is unfortunate that even after its publication the learned scholars are not acquainted with this text, which is an ancient and prime text of occult sciences.
The language and terms used in the text like 'pāyada' or 'pāhuda'infer that it must have been composed around 5th century A.D. because Kasāyapāhuda and Pāhuda-granthas (Bodha-pāhuda, Sīla-pāhuda, etc.) of Kundakunda are the works composed a little prior to this period. The classification of subjects in Süryaprajñapti is also done in the form of Pāhuļas. Hence, Jayapāyada may be a part of the second redaction of Praśnavyākarana but it cannot be said with certainty unless a thorough study of all the available texts bearing the names of Praśnavyākaraṇa is done. Why the changes in the subject matter?
Naturally, here arises a vital questions as to why it happened that at first the portions related to the Rşibhāșita, Ācāryabhāșita and Mahāvīra-bhāșita were separated and replaced by the matter related to the occult sciences and that too finally was replaced by the matter pertaining to Influx of karmas and the stoppage of influx of karmas. Why the portions of Rşibhāșita etc. were removed first? In my opinion, because it contained the preachings and sayings of Rșis belonging to non-Jaina tradition it was removed first. The account available in Samavāyānga pertaining to Praśnavyākarana also confirms this contention. There it is clearly told that Mahāpraśnavidyā, Manapraśnavidyā, and Devaprayāga etc. have been coined in order to establish people in Jinavacana and to ensure their firmness in the sayings of Omniscient Jina. Although it is surprising that the knowledge of
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