________________
205
of Mahayanism-cum-Hinayanism of the Buddhists.
551
(2) 24 Tirthankaras The roles of 24 tirtharkaras are discussed in XX.8.675-81. The previous sutra 674 offers in introduction that the cosmic time cycle of avasarpini-utsarpini governs five Bharatas and five Airavatas, but not five Maha videhas (cf. A-2). Sūtra 675 explains that 24 arhats preach the doctrine of four yamas in Maha videhas, that 22 arhats in the middle do the same in Bharatas and Airavatas, and the first and the last arhats preach the doctrine of five uratas accompanied by pratikramana (twice daily repentance) in Bharatas and Airavatas. The same idea occurs in the Sthana IV.1.329. Our text imparts a list of 24 tirthan karas born in Bharata in Jambudvipa in this avasarpini, wherein the 6th is called Suprabha and the 8th Sa'si, who are respectively called Padmaprabha and Candraprabha in the later literature. The position of the 12 Angas in relation to 24 tirtharkaras is taken up in sutra 676 that kalika 'srutas (here meaning the 11 Angas) exist during the eight interims at the beginning and end, which do not exist in the seven middle interims (i.e., the 9th-16th), and that the Drsțivada does not exist throughout these twenty-three interims. Sūtra 677 mentions that MV's Purvagata lasts for 1,000 years and other tirtharkaras' Purvagata lasts for sarkhyata or asankhyata years in Bharata in Jambudvipa in the present avasarpini.
552
In the same Bharata in the same present cosmic time, MV's tirtha is said in sutra 678 to last for 21,000 years, and the tirtha of the 24th future tirthankara is said in sutra 679 to last for sarkhyata years, which equals the length of time that Rşabha of Kausala enjoyed as a jina. This sutra must be acquainted with the content expressed in the Sthāna IX.920 which offers 9 kot ikoti sagaropamas as the duration of Rşabha's jinahood. Sutra 680 then defines that arhats are necessarily tirtharkaras, and a tirtha consists of four varna 'sramana sanghas, i.e., monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. Finally, sutra 681 tells that these arhats are necessarily pravacanis or preachers of pravacana, that pravacana consists of the 12 Angas (dvada'sanga gani-pitakas), and that the Kşatriyas of noble families (i.e., the Ugras, Bhogas, Rajanyas, Ik'suvākus, Jnatas and Kauravas) attain liberation or devaloka by embracing the Jaina dharma.
553
Here the concept of 24 future tirtharkaras that naturally presupposes the existence of 24 past tirtharkaras creeps in. Since 24 present tirtharkaras were born in Bharata in this present avasarpini, 24 future tirtharkaras are to be born in the immediately succeeding utsarpiņi, and 24 past tirtharikaras had been born in the immediately preceding utsarpini. And since this kala cakra is turning round eternally, the number of the past and future tirtharkaras is assumed to be innumerable.
· 554 The roles of 24 tirtharkaras authorized by the then canonical authorities are: Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
