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Tattvarthasūtra
PREFACE
Acārya Umāsvāmī's 'Tattvārthasūtra'
तत्त्वार्थसूत्रकर्तारं गृद्धपिच्छोपलक्षितम् । वन्दे गणीन्द्रसंजातमुमास्वामिमुनीश्वरम् ॥
तत्त्वार्थसूत्र के कर्ता, गृद्धपिच्छ से उपलक्षित, गणीन्द्र, श्रेष्ठ, उमास्वामी मुनीश्वर की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।
I make obeisance to the lord of the congregation of ascetics, venerable, and possessor of the whisk made of the vulture-feather, Acārya Umāsvāmi, the composer of 'Tattvärthasūtra'.
The Scripture is the Word of the Omniscient Tīrthankara' or 'Apta' or 'Lord Jina'. It is inviolable and not opposed to the two kinds of valid knowledge - direct (pratyakṣa) and indirect (parokṣa). The ancient, learned preceptors - particularly prior to the 5th or 6th century CE, have deliberately abstained from mentioning their names or lineage in the profound Scripture that they had composed. They believed that their task was just to faithfully present, for the benefit of the bhavya souls, the Word of the Omniscient Tirthankara. The Scripture is replete with phrases like 'vadanti jinaḥ' (in Sanskrit) and jina bhaniyam' (in Prakrit) cautioning the reader that what has been said herein is only the Word of the Omniscient Tirthankara. Further, they believed that the association of their names with the Scripture in no way adds to its acceptability or sanctity.
Taking cue from works by the subsequent ācārya and various inscriptions, it has been established that Acārya Gṛddhpiccha is the author of 'Tattvärthasūtra'. Two other names of Acarya Gṛddhpiccha are common - Acārya Umāsvāmī and Acārya Umāsvāti. The digambara tradition believes that Acārya Gṛddhpiccha (Acārya Umāsvāmī) may have been a direct disciple of Acārya Kundakunda who graced this earth at the beginning of the Christian era. Thus, the time for Acārya Gṛddhpiccha (Acārya Umāsvāmī) is set at the 1st century CE.
(xiv)
