Bhashya Aur Bhashyakar

This document is an excerpt from a book titled "Bhashya aur Bhashyakar" by Mohanlal Mehta, published as part of the Z Yatindrasuri Diksha Shatabdi Smarak Granth. It focuses on the "Bhashya" (commentaries) and "Bhashyakars" (commentators) in Jain literature, particularly within the Agamas.

Key points from the text:

• Niyuktis and Bhashyas: The text begins by mentioning "Niyuktis" (commentaries) as the earliest poetic commentaries on the Agamas, noting their large number of verses (gathas). It then introduces "Bhashyas" as further explanations of these Niyuktis, highlighting that Bhashyas are also in Prakrit.
• Purpose of Bhashyas: The primary purpose of Bhashyas, according to the text, was to explain technical and technical terms, rather than providing extensive detailed discussions of subjects. This is why many aspects in Niyuktis are not easily understood without the assistance of later commentaries.
• Key Bhashyakars and their Works:
  • Acharya Jinbhadra: He holds a significant place in Jain history due to his important works. However, there is a lack of information about his personal life, with conflicting accounts regarding his birth and discipleship. The text notes that his importance was recognized by later scholars, who attempted to place him in the lineage of Acharyas.
    • Works attributed to Jinbhadra: He is credited with writing two Bhashyas: Visheshavashyakabhashya and Jitakalpabhashya.
    • Visheshavashyakabhashya: This is considered a representative commentary among three Bhashyas on the Avashyak Sutra. It is not a commentary on the entire Avashyak Sutra but only on its first study (adhyayana), yet it contains 3603 verses. A manuscript of this Bhashya was written in Shak Samvat 531 (669 CE) and dedicated to a Jain temple in Valabhi. This suggests a connection between Jinbhadra and Valabhi.
    • Jitakalpabhashya: The text mentions that Jinbhadra also wrote this Bhashya.
    • Evidence of Jinbhadra's Life: Information about Jinbhadra comes from inscriptions on two statues found at Ankotta (Akkota village), dating between 550-600 CE. These inscriptions mention "Jinbhadra Vacanacharya" of the "Nivrittikula." This indicates that he likely consecrated these statues and that his lineage was called Nivrittikula. The term "Vacanacharya" (preacher/teacher of scriptures) is equated with "Kshama-shraman" (a type of ascetic) in Jain tradition, implying they are synonymous.
    • Jinbhadra's Connections: Besides Valabhi, Jinbhadra is also mentioned to have a connection with Mathura, where he is said to have worshipped a deity and revived the Mahanishitha Sutra eaten by termites.
    • Praise for Jinbhadra: The author of the Jaitakalpachurni, Siddhasenagani, praises Jinbhadra as a unique commentator on Agamas, a "Yugapradhan" (leader of the era), and highly respected by scholars. He was skilled in various subjects including grammar, mathematics, prosody, and linguistics.
    • Dating Jinbhadra: Muni Shri Jinavijayji suggests, based on two verses found at the end of a manuscript of Visheshavashyakabhashya in Jaisalmer, that the Bhashya was completed in Shak Samvat 531 (Vikram Samvat 666). However, Pt. Shri Dalsukh Malvania disputes this, arguing that the verses refer to the time of copying the manuscript, not its creation. He suggests Jinbhadra's later period was around 650-660 CE.
    • Other Works of Jinbhadra: He is also credited with Brihat Sangrahani, Brihat Kshetra Samasa, Visheshnavati, and Jitakalpa (all in Prakrit verse). There is some doubt about his authorship of Dhyanashataka.
• Sanghadasagani: He is another prominent Bhashyakar.
  • Works attributed to Sanghadasagani: He is known for two Bhashyas: Brihatkalpa-Laghu-Bhashya and Panchakalpa-Mahabhashya.
  • Distinction from Vasudevahindi Author: Muni Shri Punyavijayji distinguishes the Sanghadasagani who wrote these Bhashyas from the Sanghadasagani who authored the first part of Vasudevahindi. The former is identified as a "Kshama-shraman," while the latter is a "Vachak."
  • Dating Sanghadasagani: The text suggests that the author of Brihatkalpa-Brihadbhashya (which is believed to be Sanghadasagani) came after the authors of Brihatkalpa-Churni and Brihatkalpa-Visheshachurni, and was either a contemporary or slightly earlier than Acharya Haribhadrasuri.
• Other Bhashyakars: Besides Jinbhadra and Sanghadasagani, the text mentions that there were other Bhashyakars, but their names are not known. It is believed that there were at least four major Bhashyakars in total.
• Vyavahar Bhashyakara: The identity and period of the author of Vyavahar Bhashya are unknown. However, the text argues that the author of Vyavahar Bhashya preceded Acharya Jinbhadra, as Jinbhadra references subjects in his Visheshnavati that are discussed in the Bhashya of the sixth chapter of the Vyavahar Sutra.

In essence, the excerpt provides a historical overview of prominent commentators and their significant works in Jainism, focusing on the Bhashya literature. It highlights the scholarly contributions of Acharya Jinbhadra and Sanghadasagani, while also acknowledging the existence of other unknown Bhashyakars and the challenges in precisely dating these ancient scholars and texts.