________________
56
etc. Angas were composed, the Dristiwāda was given in the form of the twelfth Anga.
Though the two different accounts, such as, 'readers of the twelve Angas' and 'readers of the fourteen Purwas' are found, it cannot be said that the scholars in the fourteen Purwas were not scholars in the twelve Angas and vice-versa. Gautama Swami was called 'Dwādaśängavit. He was a *ćaturdaśa-purvī' as well as "Angadhara'. A 'śruta-kcwali' was somewhere called 'Dwadaśāngavit' and sometimes 'caturdaśa-pūrvi' as well.
As the eleven Angas are taken from or a collection of the Purwas, a 'caturdasa-pūrvi' is, of course, a 'Dwādaśangi' also. As the fourteen Purwas are incorporated in the twelfth Anga, a 'Dwādaśāngavit' too. We, therefore, reach this conclusion that the Āgama had only two ancient classifications 1. the Fourteen Purwas and 2. the eleven Angas. The 'Dwādasangi' had no independent standing. This is the title given to the Purwas and the Angas jointly.
Some modern scholars hold the Pūrwas, to be of the period of lord PärŚwa and the Angas of lord Mahāvira. But this view is not correct. The tradition of the Purwas and the Angas was prevelent at the time of lord Aristanemi and lord Pārswa too. That the Angas were composed for the use of less intelligent people has been told before. That the intelligence quotient of all the Munis at the time of lord Pārswa was equal is incredible. The intelligence quotients have always differed in each and every age. Considering from the psychological and practical view, we reach the conclusion that the necessity of the Angas prevailed in the order of lord PárŚwa too. To support this view that at the time of lord PärŚwa only the Purwas and not the Angas existed, no evidence is, thercfore, found. By common sense this fact is estabilished that the Purwas and the Angas were renovated according to the purport, language, style and necessity of the age in the order of lord Mahavíra. Fancy has, perhaps, played a main role to support the view that the Purwas were received traditionally from lord Pärswa and the Angas were composed in the tradition of Lord Mahāvīra. 3. Anga-Pravişta and Anga-Váhya
It is heard by all that the gañadharas Gautama etc., composed the Pūrwas and the Angas at the time of lord Mahāvira. A simple question
1. See the beginning of the preface. 7 Ittaradhyavana 2317
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org