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FIRST CHAPTER
Position of the Bhagavati Sūtra in the Ardha-Magadhi Canon. Its inter-relation to the other Canonical works.
FIRST SECTION
Position of the BhS. in the Ardha-Magadhi Canon
The BhS (Viyahapannatti, Skt. Vyakhyaprajnapti) is one of the most important works of the Ardha-Magadhi canon of the Jainas. It is largest in volume, exceeding all the volumes of the ten Angas put together and encyclopaedic in its contents covering various aspects of Jaina Philosophy and History in the form of conversations between Lord Mahavira and his disciples, Goyama Indabhūi and others and the members of the heterodox sects as existing during his period.
The study of this work has thrown light upon many problems of Indian History and Thought, more particularly in the field of Jainology. It is the mine of informations regarding various aspects of History and Culture, such as, political, social and economic conditions, education, different systems of religion, political history, cosmology, cosmography, Geography and evolution of Jaina Philosophical Thought which are rarely embodied in any of the Agamas in such a consolidated manner.
Besides these, the BhS presents in a graphic manner a more vivid picture of the life and work of Lord Mahāvīra as ascetic and teacher, his relationship to his disciples and contemporaries and his dignified dynamic and divine personality than any other canonical work. It throws light upon the mytho logical figures before him, such as, Munisuvrata, Vimala, etc., Jaina traditions, and nature of faith and preconditions to those prevailing during the period of the Master. Here, side by side with the appearance of supernatural beings and the demonstration of the spiritual power of Lord Mahāvīra, are depicted the purely human traits as revealed in the scene of his accidental
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