Agam 26 Prakirnak 03 Maha Pacchakhana Sutra

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Agam Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Samsthan

Page 10

MAHĀPRATYĀKHYĀNA-PRAKĪRNAKA
PREFACE
General Introduction :
In every faith scriptures occupy an important position amongst religious texts. Agamas enjoy the same position and importance in the Jaina faith as the Vedas in Hinduism, Tripitaka in Buddhism, Avesta in Zarthustism, the Bible in Christianity and the Koran in Islam. Although Āgamas are neither considered as created by a superhuman entity or Apauruşeya as the Vedas are taken to be; nor are they considered to be the divine message handed down by any prophet as the Bible and the Koran are considered to be, but they are the compilation of the preachings of the most venerable Arbatas and saints, who had realized the truth and attained enlightenment through spiritual practices and soulpurification. Although the scriptures say that the Anga Sūtras or Primary Canons or the foremost scriptures are considered to have been preached by the Tīrthankaras or the Prophets – Propounders of the Jaina faith, we must remember that they preach only the meaning (Artha) i.e. they only present the thoughts or the ideas, which are then given the garb of words or codified into sūtras (maxims or aphorisms) or canonical texts by the Ganadharas - the principal disciples of Tirtharkaras, Ācāryas (masters) and other learned Sthaviras or elders or senior monks.'
The Jaina tradition does not lay as much emphasis on words as the Hindu tradition. It considers words only as a means to convey the thought, idea or meaning. In its view the meaning is
""Attham bhāsai arahā suttam ganthanti ganaharā“ – Avaśyaka Niryukti,
verse 92.