Agam 01 Ang 01 Acharang Sutra Aayaro Terapanth

SR No.: 003557
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Tulsi Acharya, Nathmalmuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 381
Language: Prakrit
Classification: Book_Devnagari, Agam, Canon, & agam_acharang
File Size: 6 MB

Page 55

view that the ‘Pūrwa' was the Śruta- Rasi of the tradition of lord Pārswa and preceding to Lord Mahavira, it was, therefore called 'Purwa'. Whatever view of the two is accepted, the conclusion is the same that the Purwas' were composed before the 'Dwadaśāngi' or the 'Dwādaśangi' is a later composition than the 'Purwas".
In the form the 'Dwādaśāngi' is now found, the 'Pūrwas' are assimilated. The twelfth Anga is 'Driştiwada'. One of its divisions is "Pūrwagata'. The fourteen 'Purwas' are included in it. The opinion that lord Mahāvira first composed the 'Purwagata Sruta', leads us to the conclusion that the forteen 'Purwas' and the twelfth Anga are one and the same. The 'Purwaśruta was very difficult to understand. The common people could not follow it. The Angas were composed for the benefit of less intelligent persons. Jinabhadra-gani Kšamāśramana says "The Dșiștiwāda contains all the word-knowledge (sabda-Jyaña). The eleven Angas, nevertheless, have been composed for the good of less intelligent people. The eleven Angas were studied only by those monks (Sadhus) who were not very intelligent. The intelligent munis studied the 'Pūrwas'. From the order of classification of the Agama, it is concluded that the eleven Angas are easier than Dţiştiwada or Purwas or have been in a different order from theirs.
According to tbe Digambara tradition the Kewalis became extinct after 62 years of Vira-nirwāņa'. After that, for a hundred years only SrūtaKewalis (Caturdaśa-Pärwis) were found. Beyond that for one hundred and eightythree years only Daśapūrvīs were found. And, later to them for a period of two hundred and twenty years only the eleven-Angadharas were found.3
The discussion, given above, makes it quite clear that so long as the Ācāra etc. Angas were not composed, the Sruta-Rasî of lord Mahavira was called 'Caudaha Purwaś or 'Dțiştiwada'. When the eleven Acara
1. Nandi, Malayagiri vritti, Patra 240.
Adye tu wyacaksate purwam purwagatasutrarthamarhan bhaste, Ganadhara api purwam purwagata Sutram Vira cayanti, Pascadaearadikam. Visesawasyaka Bhasya, Gatha 554. Ja-i-wi ya Bhutawa-e sawwassa waogayassa Nijjuhana Tahawi hu, dummehe
pappa itthi oyaro ya. 3. Jayadhawala, Prastawapa, Page 49.