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we shall find three strata in the formation of this scripture, which are.I Vagga 1. – Vagga 5:-Semi-legendary
stories of the heroes related to Kanha Vasudeva; in fact of the Dasaras of
Bāravai. The Presiding Saint:-Aritthanemi, the twenty
-second Tirthankara. IJ Vagga 6. and Vagga 7:-The stories of
the disciples of Mahāvīra himself. The Presiding Saint:-Mahavīra, the twenty
fourth Tirthankara. III Vagga 8:-\lerely orthodox theological
details of 10 penances, which are pegged on the names of the ten wives of King, Seniya.
The Presiding Saint:-Mahavīra. Each of the strata remains independent of and loosely joined with the other. The first stratum represents the pre-Mahāvīra stories and shares in common with the legends of Krisna prevalent also among the Hindus-as especially represented in Harivams’a; the other two strata represent the stories of the disciples of Mahavira. Especially the seventh and the eighth Vaggas
