Canonical Literature Of Jainas

Author(s): H R Kapadia
Publisher: Hindi Granth Karyalay

Page 83

CHAPTER IV THE EXTINCT AGAMAS OF THE JAINAS In each of the two cycles of kālacakra, avasarpinī and utsarpini there flourish 24 Tirthankaras in this Bharata kşetra and Airāvata as well. Moreover, an infinite number of kālacakras has elapsed by this time. Hence we can easily conclude that the number of the Tirthankaras that have flourished by this time is infinite. According to the traditional view of the Jainas, all the Ganadharas of each of these Tīrthařkaras composed dvādasāngis. Furthermore, several direct or indirect disciples of every Tīrthankara, who were endowed wilh four kinds of mati must have composed Païnnagas as stated in Nandi (s. 44). Leaving aside the sacred literature that came into existence after the omniscience of Lord Mahāvira, the preceding one seems to have been practically irrevokably lost for ever. No record is available for it. This is perhaps natural; but it may appear certainly wonderful that there is no complete record to be found regarding the scriptures which were composed during a millennium beginning from 500 B. c. and ending with 500 A. D. Hereby I mean to suggest that we have no means to exactly point out all those scriptures which are now lost to us and of which
1
I use this word to indicate the following items:(i) Lord Mahāvira while renouncing the world uttered a Sāmãiyasutta.
Probably this very one is preserved in the Avassaya. (ii) He performed an iryāpathiki kriya, after having crossed a river,
prior to his attainment of omniscience. So on this occasion he may have uttered some sūtra similar to the Iriyāvahiyasutta occurring
in the Avassaya. (iii) Some scholars believe that the 14 Puvvas belonged to a predecessor
of Lord Mahāvīra, and at least some extracts from them are available at present.