Jaina Epistemology

SR No.: 006738
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1990
Total Pages: 516
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

Page 37

Epistemology of Jainas
According to the account given by Indranandin1 in his commentary of Śrutāvatāra, Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama had six commentaries. The first known as Parikarma was written by Kundakunda. The remaining commentaries are attributed to Samakuṇḍa, Tumbulūra, Samantabhadra and Bappadeva. Dhavala is the most popular of them, it is as big as 72000 metres.
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The commentary of Virasena, in addition to its logical and penetrative treatment, is important in other respects also. It quotes a big number of gathās from the Agamas, still prevalent in the Svetambara tradition; which no other Digambara work has quoted. These quotations serve as a common heritage for the two traditions. There is another number of references which are not found in any older work. It points to a treasure of cultural development which is entirely lost. Virasena refers to two different schools of thought on certain points of disagreement and designates them as the Northern school and the Southern school. This reference points to the traditions of Svetambaras and Digambaras respectively, and indicates their different regions of the development.
Kaṣāya Prabhṛta was written by Gunadhara, a contemporary of Dharasena. It also possesses the commentary of Jayadhavala by Virasena.
In addition to the above two works, Mahabandha also is placed in the category of Agamas. It is an expansion of the sixth chapter of Satkhandagama by Bhutabali himself. It is also known as Mahādhavalā.
Thus the Digambara tradition recognizes Dhavala, Jayadhavala and Mahādhavala as the three siddhanta-granthas, based on Satkhaṇḍāgama, Kaṣāya Prabhṛta and Mahābandha.
Two Traditions supplementing each other
The above three works are mainly related to the Purva literatures. It it interesting to note that according to the Svetām
1. Dhavala Int.
p. III 2. Mahābandha, Int. p. 1
3. Jayadhavalā Int. p. 1.