Padliptsurikrut Nirvankalikano Samay Ane Samasyao - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, focusing on the dating and associated issues of Padliptasuri's Nirvankalika:

The article, authored by M. A. Dhaky, delves into the complex issues surrounding the dating of Padliptasuri's Nirvankalika, a significant text in the Shvetambara Jain tradition concerning ritual consecration and iconometry. The author highlights that while Nirvankalika is highly regarded for its antiquity and authenticity within the Shvetambara corpus on iconographic and ritualistic matters, there are discrepancies when comparing its depictions of Yakshas, Yakshinis, and Vidyadevis with other medieval Jain texts. Despite these differences, Nirvankalika is considered chronologically next after the Jain Bimba-Pratishtha-Vidhi described by Haribhadrasuri (circa 700-778 or 785 CE).

The central problem is the existence of multiple Jain scholars named Palitta or Padlipta. The author argues that the traditional biographical accounts by Solanki-era and later chroniclers have conflated the lives and events of at least three distinct Padlipta Suris, creating significant confusion. Modern research has managed to differentiate two of them:

The First Padlipta Suri: Identified as the creator of the famous Prakrit work Tarangavati-kaha. This Palitta Suri was a disciple of Aryamarga Nagahasti (second century CE, end of the Kushana period, and early third century CE). He was a contemporary of a Satavahana king of Pratishthana (also known as Hala or Kah) and a Murund king in Pataliputra. The author asserts that this Palitta Suri cannot be the author of Nirvankalika, primarily based on the latter's own concluding remarks and internal evidence.
The Second Padlipta Suri: This individual is linked to a possible authorship of the Jyotishkarandaka, an astronomical Jain Agamic text. The author suggests that the Jyotishkarandaka and the Tarangavati author might be the same, and they are distinct from the Nirvankalika author. The Jyotishkarandaka is considered post-Agamic, possibly dating to the second or third century CE, as it acknowledges the influence of the Dinakara-Prajnapati (circa 2nd-1st century BCE). A Prakrit commentary on the Jyotishkarandaka by Shivagandi Vachaka is also mentioned, potentially dating to the 5th-6th century CE. This second Padlipta Suri is also tentatively identified with the author of the Gaha Jualena (a hymn starting with "Gaha-Jualena") which praises Jina Vira. He is also associated with the tradition of founding the city of Palitana, possibly by the Buddhist alchemist Nagarjuna. This Padlipta Suri likely lived during the Maitraka period, perhaps in the latter half of the 7th century CE, and is considered to be the one who traveled to Shatrunjaya, Urjayanta, Dhank, and Mathura. He may have also attained liberation through Sallekhana on Shatrunjaya.
The Third Padlipta Suri (The Author of Nirvankalika): This Padlipta Suri is placed in the late 9th century CE (or early 10th century CE). His lineage is traced back to Sanghamandani, a disciple of Sanghamahacharya Sangamasimha Suri of the Vidyadhara lineage. The author argues that the Padlipta Suri mentioned meeting King Krishna (of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, 878-914 CE) at Manyakheta refers to this third Padlipta Suri. Another potential work attributed to him is the Saravali-Prakirnaka. The author also suggests he might be the author of the Prashna-Prakasha (now lost). The dating of this third Padlipta Suri is further corroborated by the fact that his disciple Yakshadeva Suri studied under Sangamasimha Suri, who himself was a contemporary of Jayasingha Suri (active in 859 CE). This places the third Padlipta Suri and his teacher in the late 9th and early 10th centuries.

Key Points and Arguments:

Internal Evidence of Nirvankalika: The text itself mentions tantric mantras and the depiction of Yakshas and Vidyadevis. The author argues that these concepts and practices became prominent in Jainism only from the Anugupta period, and certainly not in the Kushana period (when the first Padlipta Suri lived). There is no literary, epigraphic, or archaeological evidence for the concept of Jina Yakshas and Yakshinis during the Kushana era.
Scholarly Confusion: The work of chroniclers like Prabhachandra Acharya (author of Prabhavaka-charita) is seen as having conflated the identities and timelines of different Padlipta Suris to create a coherent narrative, leading to historical inaccuracies.
The Name "Palitana": The derivation of the name of the city Palitana is also discussed. While one tradition links it to the first Padlipta Suri, the author leans towards it being named after the second Padlipta Suri, who, according to some accounts, was associated with Nagarjuna and the founding of the city. However, a definitive link is not established.
Chronological Anchors: The article uses mentions of kings like the Satavahana and Rashtrakuta rulers, as well as other scholars like Haribhadrasuri and Jayansingha Suri, as chronological markers to differentiate the various Padliptas.
The "Vachana-acharya" Title: The use of the honorific "Vachana-acharya" for Mandanamani, the disciple of Sangamasimha Suri, is considered significant. This title was used for scholars who taught Agamas and is believed to have been in vogue until around the 10th century CE, further supporting the later dating of the Nirvankalika author.
Revisiting Previous Conclusions: The author acknowledges that his earlier estimation of the Nirvankalika's composition date in the 11th century might need adjustment based on new evidence and re-evaluation of existing sources. The latest appendix suggests a slightly later date, around 975 CE, for the Nirvankalika.

In essence, the article is a scholarly attempt to disentangle the historical identities of multiple Jain scholars named Padlipta Suri, with a primary focus on establishing the correct chronological placement of the author of Nirvankalika by analyzing textual evidence, historical context, and the evolution of Jain iconography and rituals. The author concludes that the Nirvankalika author is a distinct Third Padlipta Suri, active in the late 9th to early 10th century CE, distinguishing him from his earlier namesakes.