Agam 33 Prakirnak 10 Viratthao Sutra

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

Page 18

PREFACE : XVII
treatises following the canonical knowledge preached by them, which are known as Prakīrnakas Or, otherwise, the treatises that the disciples of Tīrtharikaras compose based on the canonical knowledge imparted by Them, with their own skill of composition, are known as Prakirnakas
The question can be raised that when the Prakīrnakas are believed to have been composed by the disciples of the Tīrtharkaras how is it that they are also taken to be composed by the self--enlightened Pratyekabuddhas because they (the Pratyekabuddhas) are not ordained by anyone and, therefore, they are no one's disciples? This point has been clarified thus – though the Pratyekabuddhas are not ordained by anyone and hence they are not anyone's disciples from the point of view of the masters or Prophets giving ordination. However, as they follow the law preached by a particular Prophet and abide by the norms of conduct laid down by Him, they can be considered as his disciples of sorts. Hence, the belief that certain Prakirnakas are composed by the Pratyekabuddhas is not misplaced.10 The Position Today -
Though the number of Prakīrņakas available today is much more (it varies from twenty-two to thirty-two), only ten have been accepted as canonical texts at the Valabhi conclave (Circa
Iha yadbhagavadrhadupadistam śrutamanusrtya bagavatah śramanā viracayanti tatsarva Prakīrnakamucyate | Athavā síutamanusaranto yadātmano vacanakausalena dharmadesanā' disu granthapaddhatirū patayā bhāsante tadapi sarva Prakīrņakam ||
-- Abhidhāna Rājendra Kośa, Part-V, p. 3. Pratyekabuddhānām śisyabhāvo viruddhate, tadetdasamīcīnam yatah pravrājakā"cāryamevādhikatya sisyabhāvo nisidhyate, na tu tīrthankaropadistaśāsanapratipannatvenāpi, tato na kaścidosah
- Abhidhāna Rājendra Kośa, Part-V, p. 4.
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