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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s13.t2: (2) Bhāsa

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s13.t2

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(2) Bhāsa

c5.s13.t2.1

After *Nijjutti*, comes *Bhāsa*, the next chronological stage of development in the commentarial literature on the Jain Canons. Like *Nijjutti*, the *Bhāsas* were also written in Prākrta verses. However, it should be noted, that a number of verses of *Nijjutti* and *Bhāsa* have so much intermingled with each other that it is difficult to distinguish them from one another. This is corroborated by the statement in the Commentary on the *Brhatkapla Bhasya*⁴⁶ by Malayagiri. Similarly, the verses of the *Bhāsya* on the *Dasaveyāliya* have been incorporated in its *Niryukti*⁴⁷ and the same muddle is noticed regarding the verses of the *Bhāsya* on the *Āvassaya sutta* and its *Nijjutti*.⁴⁸

c5.s13.t2.2

⁴⁶ Pīṭhikā, p 2.

c5.s13.t2.3

⁴⁷ p 278.

c5.s13.t2.4

⁴⁸ See H. R. Kapadia, *op. cit.*, p 172; Prof. A. M. Ghatage's article on *Sūtrakṛtānga Niryukti* in *I.H.Q.*, Vol. XII, 1936, p. 270 ff.

c5.s13.t2.5

The following eleven *Āgamas* seem to have contained their *Bhāsas* :—(1) *Āvassaya*, (2) *Dasaveyāliya*, (3) *Uttarajjhayana* (4) *Kappa* (5) *Pañcakappa* (6) *Vavahāra* (7) *Nisiha* (8) *Pañcamangalasuyakkhandha* (9) *Jiyakappa* (10) *Oha Nijjutti* and (11) *Pinda Nijjutti*⁴⁹ The *Bhāsas* on the *Brhat-* *Kalpa Sūtra*, *Vyavahāra Sūtra* and *Nisītha Sūtra* are very important as they contain most valuable information regarding various topics, particularly the life of monks and nuns and the society of those early days. The *Bhāṣya* on the *Bṛhatkalpa Sūtra* is written by Sanghadāsagaṇi Kṣamāsramaṇa;⁵⁰ most of the *Bhāsas*, however, are annonymous.

c5.s13.t2.6

⁴⁹ See H. R. Kapadia, *op. cit.*, p. 187.

c5.s13.t2.7

⁵⁰ This is edited with the *Vṛtti* of Malayagiri and Kṣemakīrti in the Ātmānanda Jain Granthamālā by learned scholar Muni Puṇyavijayaji.

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