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30 Scientific Contents in Prākṛta Canons
why, Anuyogadvāra and Tattvartha-sutra-Bhāṣya give a number of synonyms for these two terms. There are ten synonyms in Anuyogadvāra11 and eight in Tattvärtha-sutra 12 having three in common. Thus, we have fifteen synonyms in all which characterise these terms and connote the same meaning in various aspects, as shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Synonyms for 'Śruta' and 'Āgama'.
1. Śruta
2. Upadeśa 3. Agama
4. Sutra
5. Grantha
6. Siddhanta 7. Śāsana
8. Ajñā
9. Vacana
10. Prajñāpanā
11. Jinavacana
12. Pravacana
13. Aptavacana 14. Aitihya 15. Āmnāya 16. Sastra
individuals.
Heard from the Attained or his disciples. Instructions to learn about good or bad. Traditional doctrines or sacred canons containing them.
Abbreviated indicators, aphorisms or sacred collections.
Treatises of sermons, collections, connecting or stringing together of sermons. Tenets or established truths.
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Authentic controlling instructions on disciplines.
Sacred traditions.
Teaching, awakening and disciplines about constraints and preservation of culture (Viseṣāvaśyaka Bhāṣyā).
The synonym 'Sastra' for these terms connotes allpurpose utilitarian meaning pointing :
(i) they contain rules governing the society and
Jina's commandments.
Sermons in the form of spoken words.
Communication of sermons.
Words of the Jinas.
Special sermons. Instructions of the Attained.
Traditional instructions.
(ii) they preserve the culture of the community.
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