Agam 33 Prakirnak 10 Viratthao Sutra

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

Page 13

XII : VĪRASTAVA-PRAKĪRṆAKA
important not the words. It is this lack of emphasis on words that the agamas of Jaina tradition could not keep their linguistic character unaltered as the Vedas have been able to do over the millennia. This is the reason that the Jaina Canonical literature got divided into two streams, namely the Ardhamāgadhī Canons and the Sauraseni Canons. Of these, the Ardhamāgadhi canonical literature is not only more ancient but also closer to the original language in which Lord Mahāvīra preached. The development of the Sauraseni canonical literature was also based on these Ardhamāgadhi canons. The Ardhamägadhi canonical literature is, thus, the basis of the Saurasenī canonical literature and more ancient than the latter. The Ardhamāgadhi canonical literature was also compiled and edited over a period of nearly a thousand years from the time of Lord Mahāvīra to 980 or 993 Vīrā Era (reckoned from the date of Lord Mahāvīra's nirvāṇa), when they were rendered in their present form in the Valabhi conclave. Therefore, it is quite possible that these were also modified, altered and enlarged by various preceptors during this period.
In the ancient times the Ardhamāgadhī canonical literature was divided into two categories, namely the Angapravista and the Angabahya. The Angapravista category includes eleven Anga Agamas (Primary canons) and the Drṣtivada while the Argabahya Āgamas (Secondary and subsequent canonical literature) include all the other canonical scriptures that were considered to be the compositions of Śrutakevalīs or Canon-omniscients who knew all about the canons and Pūrvadhara Sthaviras (Elder monks in the know of Purvas or the Pre-canons fourteen Purvas were a part of the twelfth Anga Agama: Drṣtivāda). In Nandīsūtra, these Anga-bahya canons have been subdivided into Avasyaka (Essential) and Avaśyakavyatirikta (Other than essential). Avasyakavyatirikta canons have been further subdivided into Kālika (Timely studiable scriptures) and Utkālika (Anytime
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