Introduction Tiloya Pannatti

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text from "Introduction Tiloya Pannatti" by A. N. Upadhye:

Overview of Tiloyapaņņatti (TP)

The "Tiloyapaņņatti" (TP), also known by its Sanskrit title "Triloka-prajñaptiḥ," is an ancient Indian text written in Prakrit. Its primary focus is Jain cosmography, detailing the structure and nature of the universe. However, it also encompasses a wide range of other religious and cultural topics. The work is meticulously structured into nine "Mahādhikāras" (major sections), each further divided into "Adhikāras" (sections) and sometimes subdivisions. The bulk of the text is in verse, primarily the gāthā meter, with some prose passages and interspersed sentences.

Structure and Content of the Mahādhikāras:

The nine Mahādhikāras cover:

1. General Nature of the Universe: Introductory and descriptive, with 283 verses.
2. Hellish Regions: Comprising 15 sections and 367 verses.
3. Bhavanavāsi Regions: Consisting of 24 sections and 243 verses.
4. Human World: The most extensive, with 16 sections, numerous subsections, and 2961 verses.
5. Sub-human World: Containing 16 sections and 321 verses.
6. Vyantara Regions: Comprising 17 sections and 103 verses.
7. Jyotiska Regions: With 17 sections and 619 verses.
8. Heavenly Regions: Containing 21 sections and 703 verses.
9. The Realm of Liberation: The final section with 5 sections and 77 verses.

Textual Characteristics and Drawbacks:

While the text is considered authentic within the limits of the available manuscript material, the editors note several drawbacks. These include corrupt readings, missing lines, errors in numerical representations, and inconsistent or missing subsection titles. These issues are attributed to the limited manuscript tradition and the potential for later additions or omissions by copyists. The author himself acknowledges when traditional information was not received or has been lost.

Authorship and Dating: Yativṛṣabha

The authorship and dating of TP are complex and have been debated by scholars. The text itself suggests a twofold authorship: Lord Mahāvīra as the original source of the artha (meaning/content), and an Acharya for the grantha (textual form).

Internal evidence, particularly gāthās at the end of the ninth Mahādhikāra (IX. 76-77), hints at the author's name being Yativṛṣabha (or Jadivasaha), possibly through a wordplay (śleṣa). This is corroborated by external sources, notably Indranandi's Srutāvatāra, which identifies Yativṛṣabha as the author of Cūrṇīsūtras on the Kaṣāyaprahṛta and describes him as a disciple of Ārya Maṅkṣu and a close pupil of Nāgāhasti. The Jayadhavalā, a commentary on the Kaṣāyaprahṛta, also blesses Yativṛṣabha and refers to his Cūrṇīsūtra, indicating that Yativṛṣabha is likely the author of TP.

Dating Yativṛṣabha and TP is tentative due to limited evidence. However, key chronological markers are:

• Vīrasena: The commentator of Dhavalā, finished his work in 816 AD. Vīrasena quotes from and refers to TP, placing TP before 816 AD.
• Jinabhadra Kṣamāśramaṇa: His Viseṣāvasyaka-bhāṣya (609 AD) may reference Yativṛṣabha's discussion in his Cūrṇīsūtras.
• Historical Material: TP contains historical details about royal dynasties and the continuity of scriptural knowledge after Mahāvīra's nirvana. It mentions kings like Pālaka, Puṣyamitra, and Kalki. The chronological calculations based on these references suggest that TP was composed around or shortly after 473 AD (1000 years after Mahāvīra's nirvana, based on the Kalki reference).
• Other Works: TP refers to earlier works like Agrāyaniya, Dr̥ṣṭivāda, Parikarma, Mūlācāra, Lokaviniscaya, and Lokavibhāga (composed by Sarvanandi in 458 AD). The reference to Sarvanandi's Lokavibhāga places Yativṛṣabha after 458 AD. Kundakunda is also mentioned, and the author suggests Yativṛṣabha flourished after him.

Based on this evidence, Yativṛṣabha is placed between 473 AD and 609 AD, with a strong likelihood of being closer to the earlier part of this range.

Key Aspects and Influences of TP:

• Karaṇānuyoga: TP belongs to the Karaṇānuyoga tradition, providing detailed calculations and descriptions of the universe. Its contents are allied with other canonical and post-canonical works like Surya, Candra, and Jambudvipa Prajñaptis, Lokavibhaga, and commentaries like Dhavala and Jayadhavala.
• Incidental Topics: TP includes discussions on Mangala (auspicious beginnings), royal hierarchy, definitions of units of matter and space, and the lives of the Salākāpuruṣas (exemplary figures). These sections offer insights into ancient Indian society, religious practices, and literary traditions.
• Historical Value: The chronological data concerning the succession of religious leaders and royal dynasties provides valuable information for Indian history. The author's frank presentation of differing opinions on chronological issues highlights the historical context of knowledge transmission.
• Literary Connections: The text shows significant textual affinities with other Jain works, with many gāthās being traditional verses found in various compositions. The author's comparison of verses from TP with those in Mūlācāra, Pañcāstikāya, Pravacanasāra, Samayasāra, Bhagavati Arādhana, and Gommaṭasāra demonstrates the interconnectedness of Jain literature.
• Influence on Later Works: TP has influenced later works like Jambudvippapannatti and is quoted extensively in commentaries.

Editorial Process and Gratitude:

The publication of TP was a collaborative effort, with considerable delay between the first and second parts due to paper scarcity and printing challenges. The editors, A. N. Upadhye and Dr. Hiralalaji, express gratitude to Pt. Balachandaji for his work on the indices and to the founder of the Mala, Br. Jivarajaji, and the Trustees for their support. They hope the published text will stimulate further scholarly interest in TP's rich doctrinal and cultural material.