Jainism And Its History

SR No.: 032590
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Research Foundation for Jainology
Publication Year: 2018
Total Pages: 328
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 34 MB

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disappearing. After that, under the leadership of Ārya Skandila in Mathurā and under Arya Nagarjuna in Ballabhi, parallel assemblies were held in which Angas and Upanga s were compiled. Then, 980 years after Mahāvīra's Nirvāṇa i.e. in 5th. Century AD, the last Vācanā took place in Vallabhi under the leadership of Devardhigani Ksamaśramana. Modern Āgamas are the products of his Vācanā. However, Devardhi is only a compiler of these Āgamas not the original writer. He only systematically organized these scriptures; the material was already there before.
In the Ardhamagadhi Āgamas Ācārānga, the first chapter Sūtrakrtānga, Rsibhāsita, Uttarādhyayana and Daśavaikālika etc. are ancient and are of pre-Christian era. There are others such as Samavāyanga, Praśna-vyākarāņa etc, which are of much later period, i.e. around 5th century AD. Sihānānga, Antakrtadasao, Jnātādharmakathā and some parts of Bhagavati are of much earlier period. ie. of pre-Christian era and some others of much later date. In the Upangas scriptures such as Suryaprajñapti, Rāyapasenium and Prajñāpanā are of earlier period. Chedasūtras are undoubtedly older in comparison to Upāngas. Similarly, in the Prakirnaka literature there are many texts, which are even older than some Angas and Upāngas. But still, the entire Ardhamagadhi Āgamic literature gotits final shape around first half of 6th century AD although, even after this, there have been many interpolations.
After the 6th century AD up to the middle of 10th and 11th century AD, was the period when interpretations and commentaries of Āgamas in the form of Niryuktis, Bhāsyas, Curnis and Tikās were written though some of the Niryuktis are rather ancient. In this period, some independent texts were also written, besides the Āgamic commentary literature. Among the famous Ācāryas of this
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