Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 3

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 60

THE PRAKRIT WORKS ATTRIBUTED TO KUNDAKUNDA
that it is only on the ground of current tradition that Kundakunda is accepted as the author of these pahudas, and no evidence is coming forth, nor there is any thing in text, taken as a whole, which should preclude us from taking Kundakunda as the author of these works............" It is imaginable that traditionally compiled texts might be attributed to Kundakunda because of his literary reputation; but to prove this, we must have some strong evidence potent enough to cancel the current tradition."16
Ten or Twelve Bhattis
Twelve Bhatties have been published in Kundakunda Bhārati. These are as follows: 1. Titthayara-Bhatti
8 verses 2. Siddha-Bhatti
12 verses 3. Suda-Bhatti
11 verses 4. Caritta-Bhatti 5. Yogi-Bhatti 6. Ayariya-Bhatti 7. Parinivvana-Bhatti 8. Namdisara-Bhatti
Only prose. 9. Samti-Bhatti
-do10. Samahi-Bhatti
-do11. Pamca-Mahaguru-Bhatti
7 verses 12 Ceiya-Bhatti
Only prose
Out of these twelve, four Bhattis contain prose only.
These Bhattis are almost devotional prayers with a strong dogmatic and religious back-ground. According to Prabhacandra all the Prakrit Bhatties are composed by Kundakunda and the Sanskrit ones by Pujyapada. Prakrit Bhatties consist of prose and verses both. What is subs. tantially found in prose portions, is amplified in verses. Dr. Upadhye is of the opinion that the prose portion is the traditional heritage of Jaina inonks and their age is as old as Jainism itself. So far as the metrical Bhatties are concerned it is just imaginable that Kundakunda might bave composed, or rather compiled them to explain and amplify the prose Bhatties, which too, as traditional relics, he retained at the end.
I have not taken into account Mulācāra and Rayana-sāra which are more controversial to be attributed to Kundakunda.
In conclusion, I would like to say that much of the Prakrit texts
15. Ibid., p. 35,