Thanangsuttam and Samvayangsuttam Part 3 Tika

Author(s): Abhaydevsuri, Jambuvijay
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

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FOREWORD
I am extremely happy because by the grace of Supreme Soul, the compassionate par excellence, as also of Rey. Bhuvanavijayaji who was my father and spiritual teacher as well, I am able to present before the lovers of Jaina Agamas the critical edition of the Sthänångasūtra and the Samavāyāngasūtra that occupy the third and the fourth place respectively among the twelve Anga works. While preparing this edition, I utilised many old manuscripts collected by Rev. Munirāja Sri Punyavijayaji. I collated these manuscripts and scrutinised various readings yielded by them.
Authorship : The Svetāmbara ācāryas hold that Rey. Sudharmasyāmi, the fifth direct principal disciple of Lord Mahavira, has composed these two Anga works. On the other hand, the Digambara ācāryas opine that Indrabhūti Gautamasvāmī, the first direct principal disciple of Lord Mahāvira, has composed these two works. Thus acāryas belonging to both the sects unanimously agree on the point that the composition of these two sūtras took place 2539 years ago.
Though they were composed in the days of Lord Mahāyira, they were penned down by Sri Devardhi Gani Kşamāśramana in the presence of the Order of the Jaina monks in 980 or 993 Vira Nirvāna Samvat. Scholars well versed in history contend that alterations, abridgements and additions had certainly taken place in these two works at some time before the penning down occurred. All endorse the fact that on account of various factors like famine, many portions of the two works, preserved only in the memory of monks, gradually became extinct. This is corroborated by the comparison of the extent of works which we have at present with that recorded in the old works. The Svetāmbara scriptures at many places declare that the extent of the Sthänăngasūtra and the Sama
1. "Iha kila Sudharmasvāmī pañcamo gañadharadevo Jambūnāmānam svasi
syam prati pratipădayāmcakāra-śrutam akarnitar me maya ausar ti.... he å yuşman/....teņam ti yah.... jino Mahavirah tena bhagavata....evam.. åkhyātam” Abhayadevasūri's commentary on the 1st Sūtra of the Sthanangasūtra, p. 7. "tatra kila śrīśramana MahāvīraVardhamancavāmisambandhi pañcamo ganadhara aryaSudharmasvāmī svašişyar Jambūnāmānam abhi Samavāyāngārtham abhidhitsuh....ādāv eva sambandhasūtram aha" Abhayadevasūri's commentary on the 1st Sūtra of the Samavāyāngasūtro, p.1.
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