________________
There are numerous traditional beliefs about the number of available Agams. The two extant schools being of 45 Agams and 32 Agams. The image-worshiping Shvetambar tradition is the 45 Agam school whereas the Sthanakvasi and the Terpanthi sects among the Shvetambars believe that only 32 of the Agams are original and authentic. Others being elaborative or auxiliary works of the later period.
In both these traditions Dashavaikalik Sutra comes in the category of Mool Agams and its author is said to be Shrut Kevali Acharya Shayyambhav.
There are evidences of acceptance of Dashavaikalik Sutra as an ancient scripture even in the Digambar tradition. There are mentions of this work in the famous Digambar scriptures like Dhavala and Jaidhavala.
USSSSS S
4
THE NAME
There is a story connected with the naming of this work. In the 70th year after the nirvana of Bhagavan Mahavir the Nand dynasty had come to power in Magadh. During the same decade, in the 75th year after the nirvana of Bhagavan Mahavir (395 B.V./452 B.C.), Arya Shayyambhav became the head of the order after the death of Arya Prabhav, the third head of the order established by Bhagavan Mahavir. Arya Shayyambhav was a Shrut Kevali having the knowledge of all the fourteen Purvas. He wrote this book for the purpose of imparting the knowledge of all the scriptures in a condensed form to his son and disciple Manak. It has ten chapters and it was written not during the time earmarked for studies in the daily routine of ascetics. It was written in overtime or the Vikal and therefore it was called Dash + Vaikalik and became famous as Dashavaikalik Sutra.
Dashavaikalik Sutra is in fact not an independent Agamic work. It is a compilation of the essence of the Agams. The technical term for this style is Niryuhan. Some Acharyas believe that it was compiled from some Purvas of Drishtivad. For instance
The fourth chapter is from Atma-pravad Purva, the fifth chapter is from Karma-pravad Purva, the seventh chapter is from Satya-pravad Purva, and the other chapters are from Pratyakhyan Purva. (Avashyak Niryukti 16, 17)
According to another belief this was compiled from the Dwadashangi. Acharyasamrat Shri Atmaram ji M. has supported this opinion on the basis of his extensive research. The salient points of his study are
(20)
00 SSSSSSS
WCTION
ALIW
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
