________________
122
JAINISM AND DEMOCRACY
preserving the knowledge and so he called two sages who afterwaods became famous as Puspadanta and Bhutabli and taught to them portions of the fifth Anga Vivahapannati and the twelfth Anga Diţtivāda. These were subsequently reduced to writing in Sütra from by the two eminent pupils. Puşpadanta composed the first 177 Sūtras and his colleague Bhūtabali wrote the rest, the total being 6000 Sūtras." Eleven Argas.
The Angas, as has been already said, from the main body of śruta. Both, the traditions of śvetā mdaras as well as Digambaras' are one in this respect. Originally, the number of Argas was twelve. The twelfth Drstivāda has been lost in course of time. The name suggests that it contained philosophical discussions with heretical systems. The loss of Pūrva literature as well as of this Anga suggests that the traditions of Mahāvira did not encourage discussion with opposite systems. Jain ascetics paid more attention towards practical side. Before the advent of Siddhasena and Samantabhadra in the fifth century A. D. we do not find any work attempting to refute opposite systems. The Sūtrakstānga, which refers to many heretics, leaves them with the remarks that followers of the wrong path cannot attain salvation and they will sufler the tortures in hell.
The Angas are also known as Gaņi Pitakas, the box of a group leader. The word pițaka suggests two things. Firstly, it may be borrowed from the Buddhist who divides his canon into three pițakas. Secondly, the word came into use when the canon was reducd to writting.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
