Visesavasyakabhasya Part 3

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, Bechardas Doshi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 8

INTRODUCTION
Title : Višesāvasyakabhāsya :
• Though Āc. Jinabhadra himseli calls his work by the name of 'Atasayāņuyoga' (gātha 1) (Sk. Avaśyakānuyoga), it has been well known by the name of 'Višeşāvaśyakabhāsya'. The basis of this current name seems to be the author's declaration that bis work is a Bhāşya'. And it is a bhāşya on the Avaśyakaniryukti. It seems there had been a bhāşya even before Ac. Jinabhadra composed his Bhasya. This inference is based on the terms 'Mulabhāsya', 'Bbāsya', 'Āvaśyakavivarana' etc. used by Ac. Haribhadra and others in their commentaries on the Avaśyakaniryukti for a source of some gāthās included in the Avaśyakanityukti'. The term 'visesa' is applied to the Bhāşya probably to differentiate it from the older one or to bring out its special feature, viz. that it comments particularly on the first chapter, viz. the Sāmāyika-adbyayana of the Āvaśy akasūtra which contains six adhyayanas (chapters) in all. Ac. Jinabhadra himself considers it to be a commentary on the Avaśyaka. Hence the name Višeşāyağ yakabhāşya has been applied to the present work.
Why the commentary on the Sāmāyika adhyayana only ? : The method of commenting upon the Agamas is for the first time demonstrated in the Anuyogadvārasutra. Therein the Āvaśyakasutra is simply used as an example to illustrate the method of exposition. The Anuyogadvārasutra first explains the entrances' to exposition and then comments on the first Sāmāyika adhyayana only of the Avaśyakasūtra. Even in the Viseşāvaśyakabhāşya we find this order of exposition. Ac. Jinabhadra contends that both knowledge and action are necessary for attaining liberation; that 'āvaśyaka' is of the nature of knowledge and action; hence by commenting on the 'Āvaśyaka' knowledge and action are attaind and by them liberation. Those pupils who earnestly desire liberation are required to learn first the Avaśyaka, the opening chapter of which is 'Sāmāyika'. It becomes necessary to explain it in the sanie order in which it is given for memorising. That is why, Jinabhadra declares, it is deemed proper to explain the Avašyakasūtra first." Here then arises a question as to 1. Savvānuyogamulam bhāsam sämäiyassa sotunam. 2. Refer to the foot-notes on the following gathās of the Višeşāvasyakabhâsya: 1598, 1609
1694, 1767, 1783, 3157; 1716, 1740, 1746, 1681; 2776, 2788, 2789, 2815, 3035, 3228, 3312;
1547, 1548, 1823, 1553. 3. Introduction (English) to the Nandi and the Anuyogadvāra, published by Shri Mahavira
Jain Vidyalaya, Bombay, p. 45 4. gathäs 3-6