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INTRODUCTION
The author of Tatvartha Sutra is the most famous disciple of the universally worshipped saint, Kunda kunda Thus relationship between Kundakunda and Umasvami is established by an inscription, No 108, written in 1365 Saka, found at Sravana Belgola in Mysore. (Siddhanta Bhaskara Nos 2 and 3, pp 117 and 122, also No 4,51 p Cf also the Gurvavalı in Pandavapurana, by Sri Subha Chandra about 1600 Vikrama Samvat )
As Kundakunda was a Griddhrapichcharay, so his disciple Umasvamı also was called one. For in some MSS of Tatvartha Sutra, a shloha is found appended in the end
तत्त्वार्थ सूत्रकरि गृध्रपिच्छोपलक्षितम् ।
वदे गणीन्द्र मयातम् उयास्वामी मुनीश्वरम् ॥ The age of Kundakunda and Umasyamı is well-established The tradition is universal and is adverted to in all Jain books found in Jain Libraries all over Old written MSS in the bhandaras of Jaipur and Idar also bear it out (See also Indian Antiquary, Vol XXI, mentioned in Bhaskara No 4, pp 78 and 204)
The age was so correct as to the central tradition of Jainism that the works of these two Great Saints command universal accept ance and reverence, both from the Svetambaras and Digambaras
Place of Tatvartha Sutra in Jain Sacre Literature
Our revered author, Sri Umasvami, flourished A V 714-798 If Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana in 527 BC, then Umasyamı lived 135-219 AD This is roughly the tradition Anyhow, Tatvartha Sutra is a very old book, more than 1700 years old It falls at the very opening of the period when the great omniscient succesors of Vira disappeared, and the later Pontiffs began to rise Thus, as to date, its place is in the second half of the first millennium after Vira
As to the 4 Divisions of Jaina Literature, Cosmology, History, Philosophy and Ritual, Tatvartha Sutra has its place in Philosophy (Dravyanuyoga)
As to the old non-extant Literature, Tatvartha Sutra has descended from the sixth Anga, Jnatridbarmakatha, and the second Purva, Agrayini,
