Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
- 20 -
2. Despite the differences in the conduct between these two groups, there was no difference in the main essence of the scriptures upheld by the Lord; both groups accepted the contemporary scriptures equally as the twelve ‘Angas’. The position of some differences in conduct and complete non-difference in scriptures remained relatively stable for about one and a half hundred years after Mahavira. During this time, many capable teachers from both groups authored various texts based on the same Anga scriptures, which were generally considered to be the works of both groups' followers, and especially emphasized by the disciples of the authors, considering them as the work of their respective teachers. These texts were utilized as Anga, Angabha or Upanga. There was such a high faith and authenticity regarding the scriptures of both groups that, even when the authenticity of Anga and Angabha was accepted equally, no one downplayed the distinguishing line between Anga and Anga scriptures, which still remains intact in the current literature of both groups.
On one hand, the earlier disagreements regarding conduct, such as Achal and Sachel, which had been suppressed due to mutual tolerance and coordination, gradually intensified. On the other hand, both groups began to support these disagreements concerning conduct primarily based on the Anga scripture, while also using the special Angabha scriptures authored by their respective groups to support their positions. Thus, the division that stabilized mainly due to the difference in conduct led to many disturbances throughout the scriptures. As a result, there was the gathering in Pataliputra (around V. Ni. 160). Until this gathering and beyond, there existed an undivided Agra-Shruti that both groups accepted equally, but they claimed that the original scripture was gradually diminishing. At the same time, they continued to create works supporting their respective preferred conducts. Ultimately, this divergence in conduct-supporting scriptures gave rise to disagreements within that ancient undivided Anga scripture, which initially was related to meaning but...
1. Dashavaikalika, Uttaradhyayana, Prajnapana, Anuyogadvara, Aavashyaka, Rishibhashita, etc.
2. Parikshidaparva, Sarga 9, Shloka 55 and onwards, Veer Nirvana Samvat and Jain Calendar Computation, p. 94.