A History of Indian Literature v2.c20.s3.30

v2.c20.s3.30

The Nijjuttis, which have already received mention, consist of very concise explanations in Āryā-verses and Jaina-Māhārāṣṭrī. They are probably memorial verses which served as an aid to the memory of the teachers in their oral interpretation of the sacred texts. At a later date, these Nijjuttis were extended to form exhaustive commentaries in Prākrit (Bhāṣyas and Cūrṇis). These in their turn formed the foundation for the Sanskrit commentaries (Ṭīkās, Vṛttis, Avacūrṇis), which were compiled between the 11th and 12th centuries A.D. These various strata of commentaries are often so much intermingled that it is difficult to distinguish them from one another.¹