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10
In the Āgamas
As in the Samaññaphala Sutta, so in the Suyagadänga we get a glimpse of many contemporary philosophical schools. The Suyagadanga, however, makes no attr ibution by name, but merely states, some are of opinion, etc., etc....'. In this Agama, (Srutaskandha I, Adhyayana I. Udde saka 1), in gātha 13, we have a succinct indication of akrivāvāda of Purana Kassapa (3), in gāthās 15-16, C anyonyavāda of Pakudha Kaccāyana (4), and in gatha 11-12, of ucchedavādā of Ajita Kesakambalī (5). In the discussion on ajñānavāda contained in the same Agama, we have a glimpse of vikşe pavada of Sanjaya Velaţthiputra. Also contained in the same Agama are clear views on the Buddhists and the Ajivikas. Commentator Sri Silankācārya has identified these philosophical schools as the Buddhistic, the Barhaspatya, the Cārvāka, the Vedānta, the Sankhya, the Adrstavāda, the Ajivaka, the Trairásikas, the Saivas, etc.
The canonists have identified the then philosophical schools as Kriyavada, Akriyavada, Ajnanavada and Vainayikavada.
Like Sämaññaphala Sutta, the Chapter entitled Addaijjanāma (Ādrakiyākhya) in Süyagadangu gives an elaborate account of diverse philosophical schools of that period Ardrakakumāra was a prince from Ardrakapura (6). Once his father sent a costly gift for his friend King Śreņika of Magadha. At the same time, Prince Ardrakakumara had sent a gift for Prince Abhayakumāra. In return, the King and the Prince of Ardrakapura received gifts from Rajagrha. Abhayakumāra had sent an image of an arhat-jina as his gift for Ardraka kumāra. On receiving this, Ardrakakumāra became very happy. Soon his memory of his previous birth came back to him, and on the basis of that memory, he got initiated and started to see Bhagavān Mahavira. On the way, he met, one after another, the leaders of diverse philosophical schools. When the latter saw Ardrakakumāra, they entered into philosophical discussions with him. Ardraka - kumara refuted them all and established the superiority of the philosophy of Bhagavān Mahavira. This interesting dis - cussion is recorded as follows: