________________
Jaina Agamic Literature
PRAVIN K. SHAH
Background
Lord Mahavira's preaching was orally compiled into many texts (Sūtras) by his disciples. Collectively these texts are called Jaina canonical or Agama literature.
The Agama Sutras show great reverence for all forms of life and strict codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, nonviolence, and opposition to
war.
Traditionally these sutras were orally pass on from teachers (ācāryas or gurus) to the disciples for several centuries. Also, during the course of time many learned ācāryas (elder monks) compiled commentaries on the various subjects of the Agamic literature. In olden times, the book were hand-written and rare. Also the religious books and scriptures were considered possessions and attachments for ascetics. Therefore Agama sūtras were rarely documented and not widely distributed for or by ascetics.
During the course of time, it became extremely difficult to keep memorizing the entire Jaina literature (Ãgama sūtras and Commentary literature) compiled by the many scholars. Also there occurred a twelve years of famine around 350 B.C. It was extremely difficult for the Jaina ascetics to survive during this time. Under such circumstances they could not preserve the entire canonical literature. In fact, a significant number of Agama sutras were already forgotten and lost after the famine.
Later, when the Jaina congregation relaxed the vow of nonpossession with regards to religious scriptures for ascetics, they had already forgotten much of the oldest canonical literature such as twelfth Anga-agama known as Draṣtivada, which included fourteen Purvas. The rest of agamas were polluted with some modifications and errors.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
