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Preface
The Title
The title of the Agama under review is `Vyākhyā Prajnapti'. The work written in a dialogue-style is called 'Vyākhyā Prajñapati'. According to 'Samawāyanga' and 'Nandi-Sutra' the present Agama has an exposition of thirtysix thousand queries!. On the testimony of Tatwartha-Vārtika, Satkhandāgama and Kasaya-Páhuļa the present Āgama contained an exposition of sixty thousand queries".
The present Agama is a volume much larger than other Agamas. It is multifarious in its contents. Probably, there is no branch of metaphysics, which has not been discussed in it, directly or indirectly. From the aforesaid point of view, this Agama was held in high esteem. The adjective *Bhagawati' was, therefore, added to it's title, i.e. 'Vāyākhyā Prajāapti'. Many
centuries before, the adjective 'Bhagawati' became a part and parcel of the title. Now-a-days, the title 'Bhagawati is more in vogue than "Vyākhyā Prajnapti?
The Content
Different sources provide copicious information regarding the contents of the present Agama. 'Samawāyānga' tells us that many deities, kings and king-ascetics put different types of queries before the lord and he answered them in detail. Swa-Samaya, Para-Samaya, Jeewa, Ajcewa, Loka and Aloka have been explained in details. According to Achārya Akalanka querics, such as whether the Jiwa exists or not, have been answered in this Āgama. According to Acharya Veersena, alongwith the queries and answers, predictive subha (auspicious) and aśubha (in-auspicious) have been described by ninetysix thousand Chinnaćcheda Nayas.
1. Samawao, Sutra 93 ; Nandi, Sutra 85. 2. Tatwartha Vartika 1/20, Satkhanadagama 1, page 101, Kasaya-Pahuda-1, page 125. 3. Samawao Sutra 93. 4. Talwartha' vartika 110. 5. Kasayapa huda Pt. I, p. 125. 6. The explaination method, in which each sloka and sutra is explained independently
without considering other slokas and sutras, is called 'chinnacchedanaya
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