Brief Survey of Jaina Prakrit and Sanskrit Literature Part 1

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Sanmati Tirth Prakashan Pune

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A Chart with Observations on Ardhamāgadhī Canons
7th century B.C. up to 5th century A.D.
Jaina Literature Prior to Mahāvīra (ORAL TRADITION)
* All the Canonical literature of Jainas presupposes a source-book viz. Dșstivāda. At present this text Destivāda is extinct. Five divisions of Dęstivāda are enumerated by both the Svetāmbaras and Digambaras. The further details of subject matter pertaining to these five blivisions are different according to the both sects. It seems that the 'Pūrva' part of Destivāda was very important. We find the references of fourteen Pūrvās in various Bhāşyas, Niryuktis and Cūrnis as well as in the commentaries of Șatkhandāgama and Kaņāya-pāhuda. According to the Śvetāmbara view, the present eleven Ardhamāgadhi Anga Canons were reconstructed with the help of fourteen Pūrvās. According to Digambara view, their ancient Jaina Sauraseni canons were composed with the help of fourteen Pūrvās. The frequent references of fourteen Pūrvās suggest that they were definitely orally prevalent at the time of Mahāvīra and even before him. We can guess that the language of oral tradition prior to Mahāvīra was one of the Prakrits prevalent at that time.
6th - 5th century B.C. (ORAL TRADITION)
* Lord Mahāvīra delivered his religious surmons for the last thirty years before his Nirvāṇa, viz. from 527 B.C. up to 490 B.C. These oral teachings were compiled by his Ganadharas In the form of eleven Angas. These Angas were preserved by oral tradition up to the first conference of Svetāmbara canons held at Pāțaliputra under the supervision of Sthūlabhadra In 367 B.C. Considering the linguistic features of Ācārānga (1), Sūtrakstānga (1), Vyākhyāprajñapti (some portions) and Uttarādhyayana (some chapters), eminent scholars bf Jainological studies mention that, these texts represent almost the true words of Mahāvīra, bf course with some inevitable changes due to the time lapse. So, we can conclude that the þral tradition of the above mentioned Anga canons goes back to 6th or 5th century B.C.