History of Jaina Monachism

SR No.: 001727
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S B Deo
Publisher: Deccan College Research Institute
Publication Year: 1956
Total Pages: 616
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Principle, & History
File Size: 12 MB

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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM him, Greek astronomy was introduced into India "about the third or the fourth century A.D.", and hence "it follows that the sacred books of the Jainas were composed before that time."49 Antiquity of the different parts of the Canon:
Inspite of this authenticity and antiquity of the canon as a whole, it is very difficult to date each and every text or even a group of texts on a chronological basis, as we get references to later texts in books supposed to be earlier in compilation,50
Only a few texts are ascribed to datable authors, as for instance, the Daśavaikālika to Sejjambhava (the fourth head of the Church after Mahāvira, a century after the latter's death),51 Pannavanā to Ajja Sama who is said to have lived in the fourth century after Mahāvīra's death,52 Anuyogadvāra to Ajja Rakkhiya (1st cent. A.D.), Nandi to Devardhi, the president of the second Valabhi council, and some Chedasūtras to Bhadrabahu (c. 4th cent B.C.). The oldest parts of the Canon :
Due to the absence of any other datable or reliable evidence, we have got to resort to other peculiarities in deciding the probable sequence of antiquity ascribed to different groups of texts in the Svetāmbara canon. The Angas :
The Angas have been taken to be the oldest parts of the Canon by many scholars. The reasons put forward in this connection may be summarised as follows:
(i) That this group of eleven texts was taken to be very important and essential for study, over and above the rest of the canon, may be proved from frequent references to it in other texts denoted by the words 'ikkārasa angāim ahijjhai'.59
(ii) The Digambaras also hold the twelve Angas—the Dvādaśāngi -in as high an esteem as the Svetāmbaras',54 and consent to the view that the ganadharas of Mahāvira knew the Angas as well as the Pūrvās.
49. SBE., Vol. XXII, pp. xl-xlii; WINTERNITZ, op. cit., pp. 432-34. 50. Smv. refs. to Uttarādhyayana, p. 64b; to Nandi, p. 93b; to Nisiha, p. 44a, etc.
51. Date of Dév.: 'The year 98 after the death of Mahavira'-WINTERNITZ, op. cit., p. 433, f. n. 2; see 'Daśavaikälika,--A Study, by Prof. PATWARDHAN.
52. WINTERNITZ, op. cit., p. 433; KLATT, I. A., Vol. XI, pp. 247-251.
53. Anuttar. (P. L. VAIDYA), p. 58, 69; Antag. (VAIDYA), p. 5; Uvāsaga, (HOERNLE), p. 67; Niryä, p. 36, etc., etc.
54. WEBER, I. A., Vol. VII, p. 29.