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culture. In view of this, the origin of its Agama knowledge can be attributed. undeniably to the Tirthankaras and the authorship of the Agamas to the ganadharas. This leads to one conclusion that succesive Pontiffs passed on Agama knowledge, from generation to generation, via written texts and not just by oral tradition.
Other records also indicate that there were attempts to commit the Agams into writing. For example, the First Jaina Synod of Pataliputra was convened in circa 358 B.C.E. by Sthulabhadra (407-308 B.C.E.), the son of Sakatala. the Premier of Nanda King IX. Sthulabhadra at the time had assumed the position of cheif Pontiff in absence of Bhadrabahu-I who has travelled south in anticipation of the great famine that would take place in the North." The committing of the Agams though took place at the time, it was not universaly convened by Cedi emperor Kharavela of Kalinga, in his 13th regnal year, circa 172 B.C.E. The council was held on the top of Udayagiri hill near present Bhuv..neswar, capital of modern Orissa. The site was a quadrilateral consisting of stone plateform, situated adjacent to the shrine commissioned by Queen Sindhul. In accordance with the samavasarana description, a pale red quadrilateral pillar was laid with beryl in front of the Assembly Hall, apparently to serve as manastambha." Mirji Annarao, a noted scholar of Jainism in Marathi and Kannada, has estimated that this Council was well attended. Jinakalpi and sthavirakalpl monks, 200 each in number. Some of the names of the representatives of the first group were Ballistha, Bhodhalinga. Devicārya and Dharmasenācārya and was led by Sustitha. The latter group was headed by Syamacarya. There was the arjikā (Arvika) order, 700 strong. Their chief was Payiniye. There was also another 300 other monks, as well as kings, heads of merchant guilds, and laity. The Council presided over by Acarya Sustitha, was established to redact the Agama scripture.12
1.3 Mulasangha and the Southern Council -
According to Professor Jyoti Prasad Jain, records reveal that the genealogy of Southern Milasangha began from the time of Bhadrabhu-11 (37-14 B.C.E.). He was followed by Kundakunda (41 B.C.E. to 44 C.E.) and Lohācārya (4 B.CE. to 38 C.E.) Arhadhali was the next Pontiff of the Southern milasangha. It was during his time that Arhadbali convened the Council of Sothern. Monks, and later, at the request of Dharasena of Girnar in Gujrat, he dispatched his disciples Puspadanta (c. 50 to 80 CE) and Bhitabali (c. 26 to 90 C.E.) to Gujrat to study the part of the old scripture which would have become non-existent if not for Dharasena. The Monk, Bhitabali, has been identified with Nahapana, the Saka King Kṣaharata of Saurastra by Prof.
Arhat Vacana, 14(4), 2002
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