Uvahan Paittha Panchasaga Uparthi Falit Thato Ek Muddo

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Uvahan Paittha Panchasaga Uparthi Falit thato Ek Muddo," in English:

Book Title: Uvahan Paittha Panchasaga Uparthi Falit thato Ek Muddo Author: Shilchandrasuri (as presented in the article, discussing the work of Haribhadrasuri) Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan

This article, "Uvahan Paittha Panchasaga Uparthi Falit thato Ek Muddo," published by ZZ_Anusandhan and authored by Pt. Shilchandrasuri, delves into a specific Jain text and its relation to the "Mahanishitha Sutra."

Attribution of "Uvahan Panchasaga":

The article begins by addressing the attribution of a work called "Uvahan Panchasaga." It notes that a composition by the renowned Acharya Shri Haribhadrasuri is recorded in Pt. Punyavijayji's catalog of palm-leaf manuscripts in the Shantheshwar Jain Bhandar, Khambhat, as "Uvahanapanchasayam samaptam." This record is followed by a statement attributing the work to "Shrimad Abhayadevasuriḥ." This discrepancy raises the possibility that Abhayadevasuri might be considered the author. However, the article clarifies that this doubt is dispelled by the word "Viraha" (separation/loss) found in the final verse of this particular chapter. Consequently, Pt. Punyavijayji himself noted the author as "Abhayadevasuri (?)" in his cataloging.

The Core Issue: The Mahanishitha Sutra and Haribhadrasuri

The central theme of the article is the status of the "Mahanishitha Sutra" within Jain Agamas. It is described as an independent Agama that is no longer available in its original, complete form. A widely accepted tradition holds that Acharya Shri Haribhadrasuri, based on old and fragmented manuscripts available in his time, compiled the currently available version of this Agama.

However, this tradition is challenged by many who consider it erroneous and believe the current Mahanishitha Sutra to be a fabricated text. The article quotes historian Pt. Shri Kalyana Vijayji, who states that merely finding a couple of corroborating points does not prove that Haribhadrasuri salvaged the Mahanishitha. Pt. Kalyana Vijayji, having read approximately 60 of Haribhadrasuri's works, found no mention, let alone any discussion, of his involvement in salvaging the Mahanishitha. He dismisses the popular narrative that the Mahanishitha Sutra was damaged by termites and subsequently reorganized by Acharya Haribhadrasuri with the support of other great scholars and leaders like Siddhasena Divakara as being unsubstantiated.

The "Uvahan Panchasaka" as a Response:

The article then presents the "Uvahan Panchasaka" as a piece of evidence that directly addresses Pt. Kalyana Vijayji's critique. It states that within this "Panchasaka," Haribhadrasuri explicitly mentions the Mahanishitha Sutra and subsequently establishes its validity.

Implications:

While this explicit mention by Haribhadrasuri does not definitively prove that he undertook the revival (jeernoddhara) of the Mahanishitha Sutra, it refutes the notion that Haribhadrasuri and the Mahanishitha Sutra had no connection. In fact, the article suggests that the arguments Haribhadrasuri presents for the validity of the Mahanishitha Sutra lead to the conclusion that he may have been involved in its restoration or revival.

In essence, the article uses the "Uvahan Panchasaka" to defend the historical connection between Acharya Haribhadrasuri and the Mahanishitha Sutra, challenging the view that the current Mahanishitha is a fabricated text and that Haribhadrasuri played no role in its preservation or validation.