________________
INTRODUCTION
ANGABAHYA WORKS AND THEIR RELATION TO ANGA WORKS
The Āgamas considered to be extant by the Svetāmbara Jaina tradition have undergone different stages of composition. In the first stage the Anga works were composed or compiled. According to the tradition it is ganadharas, the direct principal disciples of a Tirthankara, who compose the Anga works. So, it can be said that out of the extant Jaina Āgamas the oldest are the Anga works. In these Anga works the ganadharas have collected the preachings and teachings of Lord Mahāyira and have also described the episodes of his life-story. The extant Anga works are composed or compiled by a ganadhara named Sudharmā. And through tradition they have come down to us in the form of śruta. We have a reason to believe that a tradition of that sort of preachings which Mahāvīra delivered had run its course and was present even in the days of Lord Mahāvīra, he followed it, and having made selection, additions and alterations in it proper to his time and place he prepared his own preachings and gospels. The tradition explicitly states that the composition of twelve Anga works (dvadaśangi) is based on the Purva' literature.
The Agama literature known by the name of Pūrva' is not extant. Only a list of the titles of the Pürva' works and only a table of their contents are available. The term "Purva' itself suggests that a literature known by that term might have been traditionally prevalent before the days of Lord Mahāvīra. Moreover, the tradition informs us that the Pürva' literature was included in the twelfth Anga work named Drstivāda which too is unfortunately lost to us. But there are many extant works and chapters in which or about which it is clearly stated that they are composed on the basis of Drsțivada or that they are composed on the basis of a particular 'Pūrva' included in Drstivāda.
It is difficult to deduce from the works of Dr. Schubring as to what his exact opinion is about Drstivāda and Pūrva' literature. But this much is certain that he was of the opinion that the story that there was ancient literature called by the name of Pūrva' on the basis of which certain works have been composed represents a false view or a misunderstanding. He is not able to decide as to
1. Agama Yugaka Jaina Darsana, p. 20. 2. Schubring : Doctrine of the Jainas, $ 38, p. 74 'It is in harmony with the
misunderstanding according to which..."
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
