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9. MESSAGE OF PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE IN ĀYĀRO
- Prof. M. R. Gelra, Jaipur
Introduction
Ancient Indian literature is represented mainly by the three leading languages, Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit. Using Prakrit language, Lord Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthanker of Jain tradition, verbally disseminated his teachings nearly two thousand five hundred years ago on Non-Violence and on the liberation of soul. These teachings are called Nigganthan Pavayana'. First spiritual successor of Mahavira, Gandhar Sudharma, compiled the doctrines and philosophy of Mahavira in the form of twelve Angas or Dvadasanga2. German scholar W. Schubring believed that Jain Angas are members of a unit formed by them and are not additions to something previously existing. A leading Jain Acharya Mahapragya has a different view. According to him, Angas are composed in written form by various groups of Acharyas all of whom had the same base - the knowledge contained in ‘Purvas'. In fact the Purvas were the soft copies of Jain philosophy, which remained stored in the supreme computer - human brain. The hard copies in the form of Agamas were composed almost after a thousand years.
Angas are most authentic Agamas. More literature was codified in the form of Nijjuties, Vratties, Bhasayas (commentary), Tikas (remarks) by their followers, mainly the Acharyas of the Jain tradition. These treatises extensively deal with various real and ethereal aspects of life, nature, and universe. The spiritual and philosophical thought process had yielded Jain Religion and Jain culture.
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