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It is believed that the second century BCE is the time of Abhaya. The mention of Buddhist ordination is found in 'Theragatha' and 'Atthakatha'. In the Pitaka literature, 'Theragatha' is considered to be the latest composition and 'Atthakatha' is even later than that. Therefore, it is more logical and evidence-based that Abhaya was a Jain.
The seventh study in the first section of the present Agam is of the prince Lishtadant and the third study in the second section is also of the prince Lishtadant. Both have Dharini as their mother and Shrenik as their father. What is the consistency of this? It is worth investigating. It is possible that there were two princes named Lishtadant, one first and one second. Mahasati Muktiprabhaji has considered this in the commentary.
The third section describes ten Kumaras: Dhanyakumar, Sunakshastrakumar, Rishi Das, Pellka, Ramputra, Chandrika, Prishtmatri, Pedhalputra, Pottill and Vehall.
Dhanyakumar was the son of Bhadra Sarthavahi of Kakand. All around him was splendor and revelry. But, inspired by the renunciation and detachment of Lord Mahavira, he listened to the holy sermons and, like a valiant warrior, advanced on the arduous path of self-control. The wonderful description of his ascetic life is given here. Who will not bow their head in reverence after reading the description of Dhany's asceticism? In the Mahasinghanadasutta 4 of the Majjhimanikaya, the Tathagata Buddha had performed such excellent ascetic practices in one of his previous births. The penance that Buddha had performed for six years is also somewhat similar to this. Kavikulguru Kalidasa has also vividly described the fierce penance of Parvati in Kumarsambhava 5. After reading all those descriptions, when we read the description of Dhanyakumar, it seems clear that the description of Dhanyakumar is more vivid. He had vowed to perform penance for six years. He would only take coarse food in the form of Achaml Vrat in the Parana. He would take the food that a householder was about to throw away and wash it 21 times with water and then consume it and use the same water. His body had become a skeleton due to penance. See the figurative description of his penance - in which practical similes have been used and the subject matter has become vivid. His presented statement shows sufficient meaning - 'Akkhasuttamala Vivaganajjamanaihin Pittikarandagasandhihin, Gangatarangabhuenam Urakaadagadesabhaeanam, Sukasappasamanaihin Baahahin, Sidhilkadali-Viv Lambantehi Ya Aggahatthehi, Kampamanavaiye Viv Vevamaniye Sisaghadiye' i.e. 'The bones of the back of the ascetic Dhany Muni could be counted one by one like a rosary. The bones of the chest were visible separately like the waves of the Ganges. The arms had become thin like a dried snake. The hands were hanging loosely like a horse's muzzle bag and the head was shaking like the head of a person suffering from wind disease.'
In this way, it is full of many similes and illustrations.
Many people believe that Agam literature is dull. The stories of the Agams, with their monotonous style, similarity of subject matter, and lack of imagination and artistry, do not captivate readers. They are full of supernatural elements. But this belief of theirs is not entirely correct. There may be some truth in it. This notion may have arisen due to reading the Agam superficially, but when we delve deeper, new facts emerge from those stories. They have made an unprecedented contribution to the structure of Indian culture and the development of Indian oriental studies. 81. Jain Philosophy of the Agam Age, p. 28, Publisher - Sanmati Gyanapith, Agra 82. Theragatha: Bhaddiyavago, Abhayatherapadanan 83. Khudaknikaya Volume 7, Nalanda, Bhikshu Jagdish Kashyap 84. Bodhirajakumarasutta, Digha Nikaya Kassapasinhnaadasutta 85. Kumarsambhava Sarga - Parvatiprakaran
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