Agam 33 Prakirnak 10 Viratthao Sutra

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

Page 17

XVI: VĪRASTAVA-PRAKĪRŅAKA
The Number Of Prakīrnakas -
It is traditionally believed that each monk used to compose one Prakirṇaka "Caurāsīini painnaga sahassaim", in the Samavāyāngasütra, points towards eighty-four thousand Prakīrnakas by the eighty-four thousand disciples of Lord Rsabhadeva."
The number of Prakīrņakas composed during the times of the second Tirthankara to the twenty-third Tīrthankara, by their respective disciples were numerable thousands. There were fourteen thousand monks in the order of Lord Mahāvīra and hence the number of Prakīrnakas composed by them is believed to be a like number.
In the Nandisutra, in one context, it is mentioned that the number of Prakīrnakas composed during the time of any Tīrthankara is equivalent to the number of His disciples, who are endowed with four types of intellects namely suddenly realised (Aupapātiki), gained through a guru or a master (Vainayiki), through self-endeavour (Kārmiki) and self-realisation (Pārināmikī) or it is equivalent to the number of self-enlightened (Pratyekabuddha) disciples in the order of a Tīrthankara
Commentator of the Nandisutra, Malyagiri, has clarified that the disciples of the Tīrthankaras also compose various
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Samavāyāngasūtra, Ed. Muni Madhukara, Śrī Āgama Prakāśana Samiti, Beawar, I Ed., 1982, 84th Samavaya, p. 143.
Evamaiyaim caurāsīim painnaga-sahassaim Bhagavao Arahao Usahasāmiyassa Aititthayarassa | Taha sankhijjāim painnaga sahassāim majjhimagānam Jinavarānam | Coddasapainnaga–sahassā ni Bhagavao Vaddhamāṇasāmissa | Ahava jassa jattiyā sīsā uppattiyae veṇaiyae kammiyae pariņāmiyae cauvvihae buddhie uvavaeyā, tassa tattiyāim painnagasahassaim | Patteyabuddha vi tattiya ceva
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Nandisutra, 81.