Studies in Haribhadrasuri

Author(s): N M Kansara, G C Tripathi
Publisher: B L Institute of Indology

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Introduction in various accounts that at times cover and confound the identity of our Haribhadra with his later namesakes who originally had nothing in common but their name and fame. As has been showed by Muni Jinavijayaji in a brilliant exposition, some of the writings ascribed to our Haribhadra must, judging from their contents, be later than the date fixed for his death (about 800 AD).
Prof. R. Williams seems to think that Haribhadra, the Yākinisūnu' who was the disciple of Jinabhadra is possibly different from Haribhadra known as Virahānka'. He has inferred that one can discern in the works of our Haribhadra certain characteristics that are inferred to be typical of him. Thus, in the first place hís Sanskrit style is correct and classical, with Paninian purity of the language. His erudition goes far beyond the purely Jaina field. He knows brahmanical lore and paurāņic legends with the absurdities of which he makes free play. He is acquainted with the doctrines of the Buddhists and can quote their scriptures. And, for an early Svetāmbara context it is necessary to note that, he is ready to acknowledge the authority of the Tattvārtha-sūtra. Moreover, though attaching importance to the technique of mantras and vidyās, he takes pleasure in clothing dry dogma and ritual with a new moral significance. R. Williams has also alluded to what we might call the 'signature element of his writings. First, there are in the printed editions of certain works concluding verses of very similar content. Thus, all such verses in his Astaka. Yoga-bindu, Lalita-vistarā, Daśa-vaikālika-tīkā, Āvaśyaka-tīkā, Nandi-tīkā, Pañca-vastu-tīkā, and Anuyoga-dvāra-tīkā, are characterized by an almost identical wording, yad arjitam (or avāptam or prāptam) punyam (or kuśalam), and certain other phrases recur in several of them.
At the same time, R. Williams, certain works, viz., the Anekānta-jaya-patākā has noted that Sāstra-vārtā-samuccaya, the Yoga-drsti-samuccaya, and the commentaries on the Anuyogadvāra, Āvasyaka, Caitya-vandana (Lalita-vistarā), Daša-vaikālika,