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DEVENDRASTAVA
PREFACE
General Introduction -
In every faith scriptures occupy an important position amongst religious texts. Agamas enjoy the same position and importance in the Jaina faith as the Vedas in Hinduism, Tripitaka in Buddhism, Avestā in Zarthustism, the Bible in Christianity and the holy Koran in Islam. Although the Agamas are neither considered to be as created by a superhuman entity or Apauruseya as the Vedas are considered to be, nor are they considered to be the divine message handed down by any prophet as the Bible and the Koran are considered to be, however, they are the compilations of the teachings of the most venerable and enlightened Arhantas and sage saints, who had realised the truth and attained enlightenment through spiritiual practices and purification. Although the scriptures say that that the Ariga Sūtras or the Primary canons or the foremost scriptures are considered to have been preached by the Tīrtharkaras or the Prophet Propounders of the Jaina faith, we must remember that they preach only the meaning (Artha) i.e. they only present the thoughts or the ideas, which are then given the garb of words or codified into sūtras or canonical texts by the Ganadharas' – the principal disciples of Tīrtharkaras, Ācāryas (Spiritual masters) and other learned preceptors, elders or senior monks (Sthaviras).
I
“Attham bhāsai Arahā suttam ganthanti Gaṇaharā |”
- Āvaśyaka Niryukti, verse 92.
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