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CANDRAVEDHYAKA PRAKĪRŅAKA
PREFACE
Introduction :
In every faith scriptures occupy an important position amongst religious texts. Āgamas enjoy the same position and importance in the Jaina faith as the Vedas in Hinduism, Tripitaka in Buddhism, Avestā in Zarthustism, the Bible in Christianity and the Korān in Islam. Although Āgamas are neither considered as created by a superhuman entity (Apauruşeya) as the Vedas are taken to be, nor are they considered to be the divine message handed by any prophet as the Bible and the Koran are considered to be, but they are the compilations of the preachings of the most venerable Arhatas and saints, who had realised the truth and attained enlightenment through spiritual practices and selfpurification. Although the scriptures say that the Arga Sūtras (Primary Canons or the foremost scriptures) are considered to have been preached by the Tīrthankaras (the propounders of the Jaina faith), we must remember that they preached only the concept (Artha) that is – they only presented the thoughts or the ideas, which were then given the garb of words or codified into sūtras (canonical works or aphorisms) by the Ganadharas (the principal disciples of the Tīrtharkaras), Ācāryas or the spiritual masters heading the monastic orders, and other learned Sthaviras or the elders or the senior monks.
The Jaina tradition does not lay as much emphasis on words as the Hindu tradition. It considers words only as means
1 Attham bhāsai arahā suttami ganthanti gaṇaharā“
- Āvaśyaka Niryukti, 92. Jain Education International
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