Tattvartha Sutra

Author(s): Umaswati, Umaswami, Manu Doshi
Publisher: Shrutratnakar Ahmedabad

Page 17

INTRODUCTION
case. This is evident from the fact that he has included in this work almost everything that Jainism has to convey. His handling of the subject is superb and he has presented the sutras as if they had naturally occurred to him. Being a Brahmin by birth, he obviously had command over Sanskrit language. Tattvärtha Sutra is the first Jain text composed in that language.
Both Shwetämbars as well as Digambars credit him with the authorship of a number of other books. That shows his creditability as a highly learned man. Since most of the books ascribed to him are unavailable, it is hard to say anything about the authorship thereof. It can, however, be said that Prashamarati Prakaran, which is popular even at present, must have been written by him.
Two slightly differing names occur for the authorship of Tattvärtha Sutra. Shwetämbar Jains term it as Umäswäti, while Digambar Jains mostly term it as Umäswämi. Shwetämbars consider him as belonging to their tradition mainly on the ground of Tattvärthabhäshya, which is a commentary of Tattvärtha supposed to have been written by the original author. At the end of the commentary there is information pertaining to the author. It states that the book was written at Kusumpur (present Patna) and provides his identity as Vächak Umäswäti, the pupil of learned Ghoshnandi and belonging to Uchchairnägar branch. Since Uchchairnägar branch was a part of Shwetambar sect, it can be concluded that the author belonged to the Shwetämbar sect.
Digambar Jains, however, refute the claim of