Agam 30 Prakirnak 07 Gacchachar Sutra

Author(s): D S Baya
Publisher: Agam Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Samsthan

Page 12

GACCHACARA PRAKĪRNAKA
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 holy Koran in Islam. Although the Agamas are neither considered to as created by a superhuman entity or Apauruscya as the Vedas are considered 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 compilations of the teachings of the most venerable Arhatas and sage saints, who had realised the truth and attained enlightenment through spiritual practices and purification. Although the scriptures say that that the Anga Sutras or the Primary canons or the foremost scriptures are considered to have been preached by the Tīrthankaras or the Prophet 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 or canonical texts by the Gaṇadharas1 - the principal disciples of Tīrthankaras, Acāryas (Spiritual masters) and other learned elders or senior monks (Sthaviras).
1
PREFACE
The Jaina tradition doesn't lay as much emphasis on words as the Hindu tradition does. It considers words only as a means to convey the thought or idea or meaning. In its view the meaning is important not the words. It is this lack of emphasis on words that
"Attham bhāsai Araha suttam ganthanti Ganahara"
- Avasyaka Niryukti, verse 92.