Mahavira his Times and his Philosophy of Life

SR No.: 006504
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Harilal Jain, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith
Publication Year: 1977
Total Pages: 70
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, & Philosophy
File Size: 4 MB

Page 17

ānuvāda, (11) Kalyāna-vāda, (12) Prāṇāvāya, (13) Kriyā-viśāla and (14) Loka-bindu-sāra. As indicated by their names, they contained discussions about doctrines and principles. The eighth Pūrva, Karmapravāda, has a special importance, because it appears to have been the source on the basis of which has grown the entire subsequent literature about the karma philosophy which is the vital doctrine of Jainism. The designation Purva-gata signifies that the tradition of their contents belongs to a period earlier than Mahāvira who possibly improved on it in the light of his fundamental doctrines. The fourth division of the Drsti-vāda, namely Anuyoga, too has an important place in Jaina literature. It is also called Pratham-āuyoga; and the entire purāņic narratives, religious biographies as well as illustrative tales etc. are all included under the Pratham-ānuyoga. According to the Dhavalā commentary on the Sat-khand-agama (sūtra 1, 1, 2), Prathamānuyoga contained twelve sections of the purāņa in which were described respectively, Arhats, Cakravartins, Vidyādharas, Vāsudevas, Cāraņas, Prajñā-sramaņas, as well as the families of Kuru, Hari, Ikşvāku, Kāśyapa, Vādi (Cedi?) and Nātha. According to the Digambara tradition, the entire Arga literature, in its original form, was gradually lost into oblivion. After the nirvāṇa of Mahāvira, during the period of 162 years, it is only eight saints that had the full knowledge of Arigas. The last among them is said to have been Sruta-kevalin Bhadrabāhu.
After him the knowledge of all the Angas and Pürvas went on gradually decreasing day-to-day; and during the 7th century after the nirvāṇa of Mahāvira a stage was reached when only some great saints had a partial knowledge of these Angas and Pūrvas. It is on the basis of this that the entire Jaina scriptures and puränas came to be composed independently in a new style in Prakrit and other languages current in different places and at different times. According to the Svetāmbara tradition, during the 10th century after the nirvāṇa of Mahāvīra, a council of monks
16