Brief Survey of Jaina Prakrit and Sanskrit Literature Part 1

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

Page 14

4th century B.C. (ORAL TRADITION)
* At the time of the first conference of AMg. canons, Bhadrabāhu (I) was alive. According to the tradition, Bhadrabāhu (I) composed the Chedasūtras, viz. Vyavahāra, Kalpa, Daśāśrutaskandha and Niśītha. The date of Bhadrabāhu (I) is accepted around 4th Century B.C. So we may infer that the oral tradition of these four Chedasūtras goes back to the 4" century B.C.
* According to the tradition, Sayyambhava composed Daśavaikālika-sūtra, 172 years after the Nirvāņa of Mahāvīra. It means, Daśavaikālika-sūtra was composed immediately after the first conference of AMg. canons.
1st - 2nd century B.C. (ORAL TRADITION)
Again following the traditional view, Arya Syāma or Kālakācārya composed the Upānga Called Prajñāpanā (Pannavaņā). As Kālakācārya is placed in the 1st-2nd century B.C., the þral tradition of Pannavaņā goes back to this period.
1st century A.D. (ORAL TRADITION)
* Anuyogadvāra (Aņuogaddāra) was composed by Arya Rakṣita in between 47 A.D. and 70 A.D. So the oral tradition of Anuyogadvāra begins from 1s century A.D.
4th century A.D. (ORAL TRADITION)
* The second conference of AMg. canons was held at Mathurā under the supervision of Ārya Skandila, in 300 or 313 A.D. At the same time, the conference of AMg. canons was held at Valabhī under Nāgārjunasūri. There is a gap of about 700 years between the first and second conference. Naturally there might have the considerable addition of new works rendered by Sthaviras.