Nandisutra Ke Praneta Tatha Churnikar

This document, "Nandisutra ke Praneta tatha Churnikar" (The Composer and Commentator of Nandisutra) by Punyavijay, delves into the authorship of the Nandisutra and the identity of its commentator, Jinadasagani Mahattara.

1. Author of Nandisutra:

• The Nandisutra itself does not explicitly mention its author's name.

• However, the commentator, Jinadasagani Mahattara, in his commentary (Churni), identifies the author of the sutra.

• The Churni states: "एवं कतमंगलोवयारो थेरावलिकमे य दंसिए अरिहेसु य दंसितेसु दूसगणिसीसो देववायगो साहुजणहितढाए इणमाह" (Letter 13).

• This quote indicates that the composer of the Nandisutra was Sthavira Sri Devavachaka.

• Acarya Haribhadrasuri and Acarya Malayagiri Suri also mention this in their respective commentaries, but their primary source is the mention in the Churni.

• From the Churni, it is understood that the author of Nandisutra, Sthavira Devavachaka, was the final Sthavira in the lineage of Sthaviras mentioned in the Nandisutra, and he was the disciple of Sthavira Dushyagani.

• Debate on Devavachaka's Identity:

  • Panaviasji Sri Kalyanvijayji Maharaj, in his essay "Virnirvana Samvat and Jain Chronology," argues that Sthavira Devavachaka, the author of the Nandisutra, is the same person as Sri Devarddhigani Kshamasramana, who synchronized the Mathura and Valabhi recensions of the Jain Agamas.
  • Acarya Devendrasuri, in his commentary, also mentions Devavachaka and Devarddhikshamasramana together, supporting the idea that they are the same person.
  • However, the text raises a point of contention: the lineage of Sthaviras in the Nandisutra ends with Dushyagani, who is stated to be the guru of Devavachaka. If Devavachaka is the same as Devarddhikshamasramana, then the lineage would need to align.
  • Furthermore, the text notes that the Sthavira list in the Kalpasutra has variations across different manuscripts, making it difficult to establish a definitive link.
  • A significant difference is also observed in the titles/epithets. The Nandisutra's Sthavira lineage consistently uses "Vayagavamsa," "Vayagapaya," or "Vayaga," without titles like "Vadī," "Kshamasramana," or "Divakara." If Devavachaka also held the title of Kshamasramana, the Churnikar would likely have mentioned it, as is done with other scholars like Simhavadi Gani Kshamasramana or Vadi Siddhasenagani Divakara.
  • Therefore, the question of whether Devavachaka and Devarddhikshamasramana are the same person or different individuals remains a subject for scholarly consideration. The compatibility and extent of overlap between the Sthavira lineages of the Kalpasutra and Nandisutra are also points for discussion.

• Meaning of "Vachaka":

  • The text clarifies that while the title "Vachaka" is relatively older, the Kalpasutra's Sthavira lineage, which has been modified over time, predominantly uses "Thera" and "Sama" (Sama'an for Kshamasramana). This suggests a distinction between the Sthavira lineages.
  • A verse by Bhadreshwarsuri states: "वाई य खमासमणे दिवायरे वायगे ति एगट्ठा। पुवगयं जस्सेसं जिणागमे तम्मिमे नामा ॥" This implies that "Vadī," "Kshamasramana," "Divakara," and "Vachaka" are synonymous terms used for those who possess traditional knowledge of the Agamas.
  • However, the common belief that holders of these titles had knowledge of "Purva" (ancient Jain scriptures) is considered potentially erroneous. The text questions how this could be possible if early Anga Agamas like Acharanga were already fragmented.

• Works of Sthavira Devavachaka:

  • Besides the Nandisutra, no other work by Sthavira Devavachaka is available.

2. Churnikar (Commentator):

• The commentator of the Nandisutra Churni is Acarya Sri Jinadasagani Mahattara.

• A prevailing belief is that Sri Jinabhadra Gani Kshamasramana authored the Bhashyas (commentaries) on the Jain Agamas, and Sri Jinadasagani Mahattara wrote the Churnis. While ancient texts like Pattavalis support this, the author suggests that upon examining the Churnis, this belief might be inaccurate.

• The document then lists twenty known Churnis on Jain Agamas:

  1. Acharanga Churni
  2. Sutrakritanga Churni
  3. Bhagavati Churni
  4. Jeevabhigama Churni (manuscript not found)
  5. Prajnapanasutra - Sharira Pada Churni
  6. Jambudvipa Karana Churni
  7. Dashashrutaskandha Churni
  8. Kalpa Churni
  9. Kalpa Vishsha Churni
  10. Vyavahara Sutra Churni
  11. Nishitha Sutra Vishsha Churni
  12. Pancha Kalpa Churni
  13. Jita Kalpa Brihachurni
  14. Avashyaka Churni
  15. Dashakalika Churni by Sri Agastya Simha
  16. Dashakalika Churni Vriddhavivarana
  17. Uttaradhyayana Churni
  18. Nandisutra Churni
  19. Anuyogadvara Sutra Churni
  20. Pakshika Sutra Churni

• Analysis of Authorship based on Churni Endings:

  • Prajnapanasutra Sharira Pada Churni: Attributed to Sri Jinabhadra Gani Kshamasramana. It's suggested he might not have completed the entire commentary on Prajnapanasutra, as no complete manuscript is found, and Malayagiri only refers to the Sharira Pada commentary.
  • Nandisutra Churni, Anuyogadvara Sutra Churni, and Nishitha Sutra Churni: The author of these is Sri Jinadasagani Mahattara, as clearly indicated in their concluding remarks. He mentions Sri Pradyumna Kshamasramana as his spiritual guru in the Nishitha Churni. These works are placed after the time of Sri Jinabhadra Gani. This is evidenced by the Nandisutra Churni's discussion on simultaneous and sequential knowledge and references to Jinabhadra's Vishshashyaka Bhashya. The Anuyogadvara Churni also quotes Jinabhadra's Sharira Pada Churni.
  • Dashakalika Churni (by Agastya Simha): Agastya Simha was a disciple of Sri Rishigupta Kshamasramana, who belonged to the lineage of Acarya Kautika Gani and Sri Vajraswami. The text clarifies that this Rishigupta is different from the Rishigupta mentioned in the Kalpasutra lineage, who was a disciple of Arya Hastistisuri and predates Vajraswami.
  • Avashyaka Churni: The author is unknown. The text discusses the possibility of it being attributed to Jinadasagani Mahattara based on certain references, but the author argues against it, stating that if Jinadasagani were the author, he would have referenced Jinabhadra Gani or his works. The author believes this Churni predates Jinabhadra Gani and was composed after the Nandisutra.
  • Dashakalika Churni (Vriddhavivarana) and Vyavahara Churni: These are also considered to predate Sri Jinabhadra Gani Kshamasramana as they don't quote his works.
  • Jambudvipa Karana Churni: While believed to be a commentary on Jambudvipa Prajnapti, it seems to be a commentary on a section detailing calculations. It quotes verses from Jinabhadra's Brihat Kshetra Samasa Prakarana, indicating it was composed after Jinabhadra Gani.
  • Bhagavati Sutra Churni and Kalpa Churni: Their composition is definitely after Sri Jinabhadra Gani, as they quote his "Vishshanavadi Granth" and "Vishshashyaka Bhashya" respectively.
  • Dashasutra Churni: This Churni discusses topics like simultaneous knowledge and perception, placing its composition after Sri Jinabhadra Gani.
  • Acharanga Churni and Sutrakritanga Churni: The authors are unknown. The Acharanga Churni mentions the "Nagarjuniya Vachana" in fifteen places, suggesting the author might be from the Nagarjuna tradition. Sutrakritanga Churni also mentions "Nagarjuniya Vachana" but without the honorific "Bhadanta," suggesting a different author. Sutrakritanga Churni quotes Jinabhadra Gani's works, placing it after him. Acharanga Churni, not quoting Jinabhadra, might precede him.

• Time of Composition for Nandisutra Churni:

  • The author of the Nandisutra Churni is Sri Jinadasagani Mahattara.
  • While the exact date of composition is not precisely known, the surviving manuscripts of the Nandisutra Churni often contain a concluding remark: "शकराजः पञ्चसु वर्षशतेषु व्यतिक्रान्तेषु अष्टनवतेषु नन्द्यध्ययनचूर्णी समाप्ता इति।" This translates to "In the Shaka era, after 598 years, the Nandisutra Churni was completed." This corresponds to 733 CE or 598 Shaka Samvat.
  • The author clarifies that this marks the completion of the Churni's composition, not the time of its writing. This practice of stating the completion year in prose is ancient, as seen in Acarya Shilabanka's Acharanga Vritti.

• Language of Nandisutra and its Churni:

  • The document briefly touches upon the language but refers the reader to the author's essay "Jain Agamadhar aur Prakrit Vangmaya" presented at the All India Oriental Conference in Srinagar, published in the "Shri Hazarimal Smriti Granth," for detailed information.

In summary, the document establishes Sthavira Sri Devavachaka as the author of the Nandisutra, based on the commentary of Jinadasagani Mahattara. It also presents a detailed analysis of the authorship of various Churnis on Jain Agamas, highlighting Jinadasagani Mahattara's role as a significant commentator and situating his works, including the Nandisutra Churni, after the time of Jinabhadra Gani Kshamasramana, with the Nandisutra Churni likely completed around 733 CE. The text also engages with scholarly discussions regarding the identity of Devavachaka and the evolution of titles within Jain scholarly traditions.