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Preface
NĀYĀ DHAMMAKAHÃO The title
The present Āgama is the sixth Anga of Dwādaśāngi. It has two Śrutaskandhas. The first is called as 'NĀYA' and the second as 'DHAMMAKAHĀO'. On combining both the Śrutaskandhas, the present Āgama has the title as 'NÄYĀDHAMMAKAHĀO'. 'NĀYĀ' (Jnāta) means examples and 'DHAMMAKAHÃO' means religious fables. The present Agama has both of historical illustrations and imaginary fables.?
In the Jayadhawalā the title of this Āgama is found as 'Nähadhammakahā' (Nāthadharma-kathā). “Natha' means the Lord. 'Nāthadhamma kahā' i.e, the dharmakathā expounded by the Tirthankara. In some Sanskrit works the title of this Agama is given as 'Inātsidharmakatha'. Acharya Akalanka too has given the title of this Agama as 'Inātadharmakatha'. Acharya Malayagiri and Abhayadeva Süri give the title of 'Jnātadharmakathā. It is a treatise mainly containing illustrative religious stories. According to them, the first Śrutasakandha has illustrations and the second Śrutaskandha has religious stories. Both of them mention the lengthening of the word Jnāta'.:
The family name of lord Mahavīra has been given as 'Jnāta' and 'Natha' in the Swetamber and Digamber literature respectively. On this basis, some scholars have tried to relate this Agama with lord Mahavira. They hold that *Jnātadharmakathā' or 'Nātha-dharmakathā' means the 'Dharmakathā by lord Mahāvira'. Waber says that the work having fables pertaining to the religion of Jnātriwansi Mahāvira, is titled as NĀYADHAMMAKAHĀ. But, on the account found in the Samwāyanga and the Nandi, the meaning
1. Samawao, painnaga samawao, Sutra 94. 2. Tatwartha Vartika, 120. 3. (a) Nandivritti, pages 230-31.
(b) Samawayanga Vritti, page 108. 4. Jain sahitya ka Pitihas, Purwa-Pithika, page 660. $. Stories from the Dharma of NAYA, I.A., Vol. 19, page 66.
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