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INTRODUCTION
writer considers that the term 'Pūrva' indicates that the substance of the literature going under that title really belonged to the age of Sri Pārsvanātha which was prior to the age of Sri Mahāvira. Sri Pārsvanātha was the 23rd Tīrthankara and Sri Mahāvīra was the 24th Tirthankara of the Jains. Sri Pārsvanātha's Nirvāṇa was only 250 years prior to the Nirvāṇa of Sri Mahāvīra. The parents of Sri Mahāvira used to worship Sri Pārsvanátha.* We would refer those who might be inclined to doubt the very existence of sacred literature of Sri Pārsvanātha's time to Sri Mahāvīra's citation of a statement of Sri Pārsvanātha to convince Srī Pārsvanātha's pupils of the truth of his own statement as to the universe having innumerable 'Pradesas' (parts) (See BhagavatīSūtra V Śataka, IX Uddesa, 226th Sūtra.) + Further it appears that in the Jain Scriptures and specially Sri Bhagavati Sūtra many Pārsvāpatyas or spiritual descendants of Sri Pārsvanātha are described to be well versed in Nimitta Sāstra which belonged to the IX pūrva and some others like Municandrācārya and Nandişenācārya are said to be 'Bahuśruta' i. e. possessing much sacred knowledge. This goes definitely to prove the existence of sacred literature and specially Pūrva literature of the age of Sri Pārsvanātha in the time of Sri Mahāvīra. It may be noted that when the said Pārsvāpatyas are so described, Sri Mahā vīra had not even commenced preaching having then not attained Kaivalyajnána or omniscience. A most convincing proof of the existence of sacred literature including Pūrvas of the age of Sri Pārsvanātha is furnished by the fact that
* See Achåränga II śrutaskandha, Cūlà 3 Sūtra 401 "A of ait HETLITE 87741पियरो पासावच्चिज्जा समणोवासगा याविहत्था।" +“से नूणं भंते अज्जो ! पासेणं अरहया पुरिसादाणीएणं सासए लोए वुइए अणादीए अणवदग्गे परित्ते परिवुडे इत्यादि" | पृ. २४८ भगवतीसूत्र x It is believed that Rşibhāşita contains discourses by 20 Rșis who flourished in the time of the 22nd Tirt hankara Sri Aristanemi, by 15 Rşis who flourished in Sri Pārsvanāthāś time, and by 10 Rșis who flourished in Sri Mahāvira's time. This is also evidence of the existence of older sacred literature.
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