Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts
by Rajendralala Mitra | 1871 | 921,688 words
These pages represent a detailed description of Sanskrit manuscripts housed in various libraries and collections around the world. Each notice typically includes the physical characteristics, provenance, script, and sometimes even summaries of the content of the Sanskrit manuscripts. The collection helps preserve and make accessible the vast herit...
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1. 68 V. CHHEDAS. Mahanisitha-vrihadvachana. 4. Pinda-niryukti. 2. Mahanisitha-laghuvachana. 3. Madhyama-vachana. 5. Augha-niryukti. 6. Paryushana-kalpa. VI. PAYANNAS. 1. Chatuh-sarana S. 6. Chanda-vijaya S. 7. Gani-vijva S. 8. Marana-samadhi S. 9. Devendra-stavana S. 10. Sansthara S. VIII. ANUYOGADVARA SUTRA. 2. Pachchakhana S. 3. Bhakti-parijnana S. 4. Maha-pratyakhyana S. 5. Tandula-vaitalika S. VII. NANDI SUTRA. The total extent of these fifty works together with their commentaries, according to Jain belief, is six hundred thousand slokas. Although all the fifty are parts of the holy scriptures, they are not all held in the same high estimation. Some are much more prized than others, and the Kalpa Sutra enjoys the highest rank, and on all ceremonial occasions is publicly read and expounded for the benefit of the large multitudes who then assemble in the larger temples. During the Paryyushana fast, in the middle of the rainy season, eight days are devoted to public reading of the scriptures, and five days out of it are allotted to the Kalpa Sutra. MSS. of this work are frequently written in gold, and richly illuminated with gold, colours and illustrations. A specimen of the style of illustration usually adopted is shown in the annexed facsimile (Plate I), copied from a codex about three hundred years old; it is so injured by damp and the chemical effect of the dye stuffs used (mostly mineral) that the paper crumbles down into powder, even under careful handling. The MS. is now in the possession of Dr. Buhler of Bombay. The Doctor has also a MS. of the Avasyaka Sutra, which bears date Samvat 1189 = A. D. 1132. Plate II. It is the oldest Sanskrit MS. that has come to notice. Beginning. (mu0 ) namo arihantanam namo siddhanam namo aाyariyanam namo uvajjhayanam | vire pancahaccuttare hoccha tajaha haccuttarahim camdra catuttagapta va te || (ti0 ) srikalpasucanaisuri mangalikama indra sevitatinecca namaskara davaue ha namaskara dava upani panca 5 | End. (mu0 ) samane bhagavam mahavire rayagihe nayare gurusile ceie vajram samananam vanam samasilam vahnanam savayanam vahnanam savayinam vahanam devanam vahnanam devi magara