Agam 30 Prakirnak 07 Gacchachar Sutra

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

Page 16

PREFACE : XV
all. Of these two names – Rsibhasita and Dvīpasāgara-prajñapti are found under the classification of Kalika Agamas or the timely studiable canonical texts and the rest seven - Devendrastava, Tandulavaicārika, Candravedhyaka, Ganividyā, Maranavibhakti, Aturapratyakhyana and Mahāpratyākhyāna - are found under the Utkālika Agamas or anytime studiable canonical texts. Thus, we see that out of the nine Prakirnkas mentioned in the Nandīsūtra and the Paksika-sūtra there is no mention of the Gacchācāra Prakirnaka Besides this style of classification in the Nandīsūtra and the Pāksikasūtra, there is yet another ancient style of classification, which is found in Mülācāra, a Sauraseni canonical work of the Yāpanīya tradition of the Digambara Jainas. Mūlācāra divides the canonical texts into four classes - 1. Tīrtharikara Kathita (Prophet preached), 2. Pratyekabuddha Kathita (Self-enlightened preached), 3. Śruta-kevals Kathita (Canon-omniscient preached) and 4. Pūrvadhara Kathita (Pūrva-learned reached). Again, in Mülācāra, these āgamic works have been divided as Kālika śruta and Utkālika śruta as well. In this classification of canonical works in the Mūlācāra, though canonical works like Uttarādhyayanasūtra, Dasavaikālikasūtra, Daśāśrutaskandha, Vyavahārasūtra, Vrhatkalpa, Jītakalpa and Nisīthasūtra have been included, we don't find a mention of the Gacchācāra Prakīrṇakathere. Similarly, its mention is also not available in the Tattvārtha Bhāsya and the Sarvärthasiddhi commentary (of the Digambara tradition) on the Tattvārthasūtra, which mentions fourteen of the extra-primary Arddhamāgadhi canonical works.
A. Nandīsūtra, Ed. Muni Madhukara, Āgama Prakāšana Samiti, Beawar, 1982, pp. 161-162. B. Päksikasūtra, Devendra Lalbhai Jain Pustakoddhāra Fund, p.76. Mūlācāra, 5/80–82.