________________
108
Studies in Haribhadrasuri
Loka-tattva-nirnaya, Sarvārtha-siddhi and others are rarely known. Over and above these, he has composed vast commentaries on many of the Āgama texts. He has given us four very important works concerning the Jain scriptural topics (āgamika-prakaraṇa), the conduct (ācāra) of the Jaina mendicants as well as laymen and religious instruction (upadeśa). He has also composed works pertaining to the literary fields of narratives, astronomy/ astrology and panegyrics. All these works are marked with his all round scholarship. When he takes up some topic, not only does he present all its aspects and discusses it thoroughly, but he also effects a beautiful harmony in the process, and this is his unique style.
As regards the early years and monastic life, as also his works, Pt. Sukhalal Sanghavi and Prof. Hiralal Kapadia have discussed in great detail in their works, entitled Sama-darśī Ācārya Haribhadrasūri and Śrī Haribhadrasūri, respectively. We have not touched the problem of his time, since Pt. Jinavijayaji has already fixed his date after putting forth sufficient evidences.
The specialty of the works of Ācārya Haribhádrasūri is that even when he discusses the Jaina philosophy, he quotes from the works of other systems of philosophy, and while propounding his own view he harmonizes them with it. It is in view of this that he has been distinguished with the epithet 'impartial' (sama-darbī).
The Title: This work has been known by the name 'Lokatattva-nirnaya', but the author himself has never mentioned it as such. It is, therefore, not out of place to discuss it. In the very Mangalācaraṇa verse, the author declares as follows:
Pranipayaikam anekaṁ kevala-rūpaṁ jinottamam bhaktyā / Bhavya-jana-bodhanārthań nr-tattva-nigamaṁ pravaksyāmi//
‘Having bowed down to the One, who is (at the same time] several, the one in the form of absolute knowledge, the best among the Jinas, I am going to expound for the sake of the
