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11. RISHIBHĀSHIT: A PRAKRITA WORK OF UNIVERSAL VALUES
- Prof. Sagarmal Jain, Shajapur
Rishibhāshit is one of the oldest works in Ardhamagadhi Jain canonical literature. In the ancient Jain tradition it was recognized as an important canonical work. In Aavashyak Niryukti Bhadrabahu has expressed his intent to write a Niryukti on Rishibhāshit. As no such niryukti is available todays it is difficult to say that if it was written at all. Of course, Rishimandala. Which finds a mention in Acharanga churni, certainly appears to be a later work which was may be based on that niryukti. All this goes to prove that up to a certain period Rishibhāshit must have been an important work in Jain tradition, Sthanang refers to it as a part of Prashnavyakarandasha. Samvayang has mentioned about its forty-four chapters. As already mentioned Nandisutra, Pakkhisutra etc. include it in the classification Kaliksurat Āavashyak Niryukti classifies it as a work of Dharmakathānuyog.
Style and Period of Rishibhāshit:
According to its language, style, and subject matter, this is an extremely old work among the Jain canonical works of Ardhamagadhi language. I consider this work being of a period slightly later than that of first Shrutaskandha of Ācārānga but earlier than that of other ancient works like Sutrakritang, Uttaradhyayan, and ashvaikalika. Even its present form can, under no circumstances, be dated later than 3rd or 4th century B.C. As per the information available in Sthānāng this work was originally a part of Prashnavyakarandasha; the ten Dashas described in Sthanang. Samvayang informs that Rishibhāshit contains 44 Chapters. Thus Rishibhāshit certainly pre-dates these works. In Sutrakritang there is a mention of ascetics like Nami, Bahuk, Ramaputta, Asit Deval, Dvaipayan, and Parashar with the
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