________________
FOREWORD
The L. D. Iostitute of Indology has great pleasure in publisbing A study of the Tattvärthasūtra with Bhäşya with special reference to the Authorship and Date by Dr. Suzuko Obira. The work embodies results of her deep and strenuous research which she carried out successfully for her Doctorate.
Tattvārthadhigamasutra is accepted as an authoritative text in the Svetāmbara as well as Digambara tradition. And both the traditions agree that its autbor is Vācaka Umāsvāti(mi). But the Svetämbaras maintain that he belonged to their tradition while the Digambaras maintain that he belonged to theirs. Again the Śvetambaras contend that he himself is the author of the Bhasya while the Digambaras strongly uphold that the Bhāşya is not his work. Moreover, Svetāmbara and Digambara scholars assign him to different periods of time. Hence the problem of the authorship and date of Tatt várthasūtra with Bhāsya needed serious study and research which Dr. SuzukOhira undertook and accomplished very successfully. To arrive at almost correct conclusions she has explored, analysed and studied all tbe necessary sources, viz. the prasasti of the Blasya, inicriptions, pattavalis, commentaries of Svetāmbara canonical texts, Digambara texts, especially the Sarvārthasiddhi, and the works of modern scholars. She has traced the development of certain concepts in order to assign the Tattvärthasūtra with Bhisya to a particular period of time. The historical evaluation of the Tattvārthasūtra deserves special attention of scholars. In this connection she has competently dealt with the topics of the Migration of Jajna Communities and the Great Schism in the Gupta Age. Dr. Ohira rightly deserves our congratulations for the present study. We extend our heart-felt thanks to her for allowing us to publish her research work in our L. D. Series,
I am sure this publication will prove useful to all those interested in Jaipa Studies.
Nagin 3. Shah L. D. Institute of Iodology
Director Ahmedabad-9
30-3-82
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
