Studies in Jainism

SR No.: 006565
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta
Publisher: Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 182
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 11 MB

Page 84

LITERATURE OF JAINISM
75
ness.
vaitālika, Camdāvijjhaya, Devendra-stava, Gani-vidya, Maha-pratyākhyāna, and Vira-stava.
4. Six Cheda-Sutras: Nisitha, Maha-nisitha, Vyavahāra, Acaradasa, Kalpa, and Panca-kalpa.
5. Two Culika-Sūtras: Nandi-Sūtra and Anuyogadvāra. 6. Four Mula-Sutras: Uttaradhyayana, Avasyaka, Dasavaikālika, and Pindaniryukti.
There are, however, variations in this classification. Sometimes Nandi, Anuyogadvāra, and Pañca-kalpa are put at the head of the Prakirṇas. Instead of Panca-kalpa, Jitakalpa by Jinabhadra is sometimes mentioned amongst the Cheda-Sūtras. Traditionally, the number of texts fixed at Valabhi is forty-five; the names, however, vary up to fifty.
In a few cases the names of authors are also mentioned. For example, the fourth Upanga, Prajñāpanā, is ascribed to Śyāmācārya; the first of the ten Prakirņas, Catuḥ-sarana, to Virabhadra; the fifth Cheda-Sutra, Kalpa, to Bhadrabahu; and the sixth, Jita-kalpa, to Jinabhadra; the first Cūlikā-Sūtra, Nandi-Sutra, to Devarddhi; and the third Mula-sūtra, Dasa-vaikālika, to Svayambhava.
It is therefore evident that books written up to the time of the Valabhi Conference were included in the canon. Perhaps some later works were also included in the Agama is shown by the enlargement of the list up to fifty. But there is no doubt about a good deal of the material in the Agama texts being genuinely old as is proved by the absence of any reference to Greek astronomy and the presence of statements which are not altogether favourable to the Svetambara creed, such as Mahāvīra's emphasis on naked
5. W. Schubring thinks that the Mula-Sutras are 'intended for those who are still at the beginning (mula) of their spiritual career.' Cf. Wrote Mahaviras, p. 1. But it is now generally believed that as they are very old and important texts of Jainism they are probably termed 'Mula-texts'. Charpentier thinks that they contain 'Mahāvīra's own words' and therefore, they are called Mula-Sūtras. (Vide Uttaradhyana-Sutra, Introduction, p. 32). This explanation, however, is not accepted by Winternitz. (Vide HIL, Vol. II, p. 466 n. 1).