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It is an established fact that Agamic knowledge was passed on by the ganadharas to their disciples. The question is, in what media was this knowledge passed on? Was it oral medium, or written texts?
A number of internal evidences are found in ancient Jaina texts, such as the Dasavaikulika of Pontiff Svayambhava (491 - 429 B.C.E.) in circa 452, and Brhatkalpa, Vyavāhāra and Nisitha works of Pontiff Bhadrabāhu - 1 (360 B.C.E.)Which point out that Agamic knowledge was passed on to the successive generations by means of written material. They furnish quite a few internal evidence to the fact that they were contemporary works. Also, the earliest Jaina inscription, Barli fragmentary stone record from Rajashtan, belonging to fourth or fifth B.C.E. throws light on the existence of writing and Prakrit literature in India. This inscription, which is at Ajmer Museum, was found in the temple of Bhilot Māta, about 1.5. kms from Barli village, situated about 54 kms southeast of Ajmer. The stone is a part of the hexagonal pillar and contains four lines, wrillen in Prakrit mixed with Sanskrit. The first line refers to 'Vira Bhagavāna (Mahavira). According to Halder, the second line refers to a period (84th year) to the reckoned from the nirvāna of Mahāvira, which corresponds to 528-27 B.C.E.". According, K.P. Sharma views the date of the inscription would be equivalent to 528 - 84 = 444 or 443 B.C.E. The fourth line contains the name Mājhimika, a Prākrit version of Madhyamikā, a place now known as Nagari near Chittorgarh. On palaeographical grounds, scholars like K.P. Jayaswal, G.H. Ojha and R.R. Halder are of the view that the Barli inscription is anterior to Asoka, and therefore assigned it to fourth or fifth B.C.E.' Coupled with the Barli record and the internal evidences of ancient Jaina texts, it may be easily said that at least from the times of Pontiff Svayambhava (491 -429 B.C.E.), there were written works available for the diffusion of Jaina philosophy. Based on the Barli record and the internal evidences that occur in ancient Jaina texts, it can be assumed that Agamic knowledge and its diffusion took place through written works. In light of this, a subjective approach and research on archaic writing system in Indian continent would furnish valuable data on the writing itself and certainly would shed light on the nature, growth and diffusion of Agamic thought and its associated literature.
In the predominent Indian view, both the concept of antiquity and the art of writing in India has little attention as the Vedas were said to have been transmitted orally, with no claim of authorship, other than the vedas were the words of God.
There is a body of scholarly opinion that Jainaism is the oldest living religion of Indian subcontinent, tracing its birth to the indigenous Dravidian
Arhat Vacana, 14(4), 2002
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