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the ācāryas. All these taken together make a very large volume. But only the original Nisiha enjoys the Āgamic status (not cūrnis, etc.). Many commentators have astrayed from the text. This is the reason why no commentary is accepted as authoritative by all sects of the Jainas. For analysis and comments in this Chapter, only the text of Nisiha Sūtra is kept in view.
II - Vinaya Pitaka
Vinaya Pitaka is one of the three Pitakas which are the most authoritative texts of Buddhism. According to the traditional views, immediately after the liberation of the Buddha, the first Buddhist Council met under the Chairmanship of Mahákās sapa when the Pitakas were codified. About the codification of the Vinaya Pitaka, we have the following description in the Pancasatikā Khandhaka of Cullavagga which happens to be the concluding Chapter of Vinaya Pitaka itself:
In addressing the monks, the long-lived Mahākassapa said,
"Once I was in a forest between Paya and Kusināra with 500 monks. I was myself seated under a wayside tree when I saw an ājivaka who was carrying some mandāra flowers and was on the road to Pāvā. I asked him,
Ābus ! Do you know our leader? The Ājivaka said,
'Yes, ābus. I know him. He has entered into liberation a week ago. I am carrying these mandāra flowers there'.
"The very memory of Sramana Gautama made some monks lament in grief, some fell down on the ground like trees hewn, some began to roll on the ground crying that the Lord has entered into liberation so early, and so on. But those monks who had conquered all attachments and become vitarāgas bore the loss with patience and memory, planted themselves in equanimity, and thought,
