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दर्शन दिग्दर्शन
DEFINITION OF AGAMA
The divine utterances of such perfected souls is called the 'Agama'. The Nyāyasutra defines the Āgamas as "371 YT2T
TEC "i.e., Agama is that which is told by Apta i.e., authentic personages. Thus the teachings of Jinas are the Jaina Agamas. In Jaina tradition, the Jinas shower the nectar of divine words only after obtaining omniscience. Their discourses are constructed in Sutra form by their prime disciples known as Ganadharas. Such Sūtras are the Agamas, the authentic literature. The Agamas are also defined as that knowledge which has been handed down since times immemorial. THE ORAL TRADITION
in ancient India, the oral tradition of rote was prevalent. The disciples used to listen to scriptures from their spiritual masters, memorise them and pass it on to their successors. This went on for a long time. The Vedas, the Agamas and the Pittaķas were preserved in this manner. The Vedas were called "Sruti" and the Agamas Sruta in the true spirit of their being passed on by rote. According to Jaina tradition, besides the words of Tirthankaras, the words of other perfected souls including Sthavirs were also regarded as Āgamas. Sthavirs may either be Śrutakevalis (those who have mastered all Agamas) or Daspūrvis (those who have mastered the ten Purvas).
COMPILATION OF AGAMIC LITERATURE
History reveals that upto 160 years after the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, the oral tradition of Agamas prevailed. However a severe famine for twelve long years struck Magadha (South Bihar) during the reign of Candragupta
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