Studies in Jain Literature

SR No.: 001868
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 114
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Story
File Size: 14 MB

Page 514

A BRIEF SURVEY OF JAIN LITERATURE (IN PRAKRIT AND SANSKRIT LANGUAGES) (i) Canonical Literature of the "vetambaras According to the belief of the Jains themselves, their religion is eternal and it has been revealed again and again in different ages of the world by 24 Tirthankaras. Rsabha was the first Tirthankara and Vardhamana Mahavira was the last. Of the 24 Tirthankaras the last two, viz., Parsvanatha and Mahavira are unanimously accepted as historical personages. The rest of them are said to belong to mythology. The 22nd Tirthankara, Aristanemi, is connected with the legend of Krsna as his cousin and some scholars are inclined to accept him as a historical personage. The sacred works of the Jains-variously called as agama, sruta, siddhanta, dvadasangi--are not composed by a Tirthankara (say Mahavira) himself. But they are based on the discourses delivered by him to his disciples who arranged them in the form of sutras (scriptures or canonical texts). The sacred literature of the (svetambara) Jains at present comprises 45 texts : (i) 11 angas : Acara, Sutrakrta, Sthana, Samavaya, Bhagavati, Jnatadharm akathas, Upasakadasas, Antakrddasas, Anuttaraupapatikadasas, Prasnavya karana and Vipaka (Drstivada the 12th anga being no longer extant). (ii) 12 upangas : Aupapatika, Rajaprasniya, Jivabhigama, Prajnapana, Jambudvipaprajnapti, Candraprajnapti Suryaprajnapti, Nirayavali, Kalpavatamsika, Puspika, Puspaculika and Vrsnidasas. (iii) 10 prakirnakas : Catuhsarana, (or Samstaraka), Aturapratyakhyana, Bhaktaparijna, Tandulavaicarika, Camdavijjhaya (Candravedhyaka), Devendrastava, Ganividya, Mahapratyakhyana and Virastava. (iv) 6 Chedasutras : Nisitha, Mahanisitha, Vyavahara, Dasasrutaskandha, Brhatkalpa and Pancakalpa or Jitakalpa.