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Chapter 28 - Jain Ägam Literature Introduction In most of religions, there is one or more main scripture books. Hinduism has the Gitä and 4 Vedas, Christians have the Bible, Muslims have the Koran, Persians have the Avesta, Sikhs have the Guru Grantha Sahib, and Buddhists have Tripitikas. Likewise, Jains also have their own scriptures called Agams or Agam Sutras, also called the Jain Shruta. Jains do not have just one main scripture book, but they have many. The Agam Sutras teach the eternal truth about conduct, equanimity, universal affection, friendship, the eternal truths on thinking, namely, the principle of relativity, and the principle of pluralisms (Anekantaväda). It also teaches many spiritual things including great reverence for all forms of life, soul, Karma, universe, strict codes of asceticism, rules for householders, compassion, nonviolence, and nonpossessiveness. After attaining Keval-inän at the age of 42, Bhagawan Mahävir delivered sermons to the common people in local language called Ardha-Magadhi Präkrit for next 30 years. These sermons were compiled orally into many texts by His immediate disciples called Ganadhars. First they have composed fourteen Purvas and then in twelve Anga-pravishtha Agams also known as Dvädashängi (main canons). All 14 Purvas are included in one part of the twelfth Anga-pravishtha Agam, called Drashtiväda. In addition to the twelve Anga-pravishtha Sutras composed by the Ganadhars, other canonical literature (Anga-bähya Agams) composed on the basis of 12 Angas, by Shruta-kevalis (Sthavirs or elder monks) in an easier format for the understanding are also included as part of the Jain Agams. The Jain Agams consist of 14 Purvas, 12 Anga Pravishtha Agams and Anga-bähya Agams (34 for Shvetämbar Murtipujak, 21 for Shvetämbar Sthänakaväsi and Teräpanthi, and 14 for Digambar) of different traditions. Historically Ganadhars passed on the Agam Sutras orally to their disciples who memorized and passed on to the next generations thereafter. This tradition of passing the knowledge from the memory in its total form lasted for about 160 years until Bhadrabahu Swami. After Bhadrabahu Swami the mental ability of Acharyas gradually declined and they could not remember the entire Agam-sutras. However As per Shvetämbar tradition, around 400 AD (800 years after Bhagawan Mahävir Nirvana) the memorized Ägam-sutras were written down. At that time no one remembered 14 Purvas and 12th Anga-Agams. The remaining 11 Anga Agams were partially remembered. As per Digambars tradition, the written Agam-sutras contain many errors and they did not accept them as original teaching of Bhagawan Mahävir. Hence they considered that all original Agam-sutras are lost with time.
For some time after Bhagawan Mahävir's Nirvana, the Jain Shramans did not pen their Agams in book form, but preserved them by memorization. They considered that possessing books would constitute violation of the vow of nonattachment and non-possession. Then came the time, when they totally changed their attitude towards the possession of books because there was a fear of the destruction of the Jain Agams. Whatever wealth of the Agam, which was still extant at that time, remained protected and preserved. Consistent with Shvetämbar Murtipujak beliefs, there are three Ägam temples, which have 45 Ägams engraved either on walls or on copper plates. They are in Palitana, Surat and Shankheswar. There are several places (Jnän-mandirs) like Amdavad, Patan, Surat, Khambhat, Jesalmer, Pindvada, Mehsana, Ratalam, Ahor, Tharad, Guda, and Surendranagar where all Ägams are available.
Vächanä (Recensions) In order to preserve Jain scriptures and other Jain literature, Jain Acharyas assembled three times and prepared three recensions of the Jain literature. Whenever the Acharyas saw that the Shruta was waning
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