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CHAPTER XIII
Digambara Literature
The Digambaras, who formally separated themselves from the original samgha in the early years of the second century AD, can rightly boast of an exceedingly rich literature. However, the so-called canonical texts of this sect, unlike the Svetāmbara canon, is devoid of any interest for students of history. The subject treated in these canonical works are technical in nature and of interest only to students of metaphysics. The canonical texts of the Digambaras were discovered from Mudbidri in South Kanara district of Karnataka some fifty years ago. The first part of the canon is known both as the Karmaprābhrta and the Satkhandāgama. The earliest available commentary on it is the Dhavalā written by Vīrasena, who describes himself as a disciple of Aryanandin and a grand-disciple of Candrasena of the Pancastūpānvaya who had studied the Siddhānta under Elācārya. The commentary was completed in Saka 738 correspond ing to AD 816 when Amoghavarsa I was the reigning king. That commentator gives us some information regarding the original authors of the Karmaprābhịta.
According to Virasena, after the death of Lohācārya, the twentyeighth guru in succession to Mahāvīra, the knowledge of ancient scriptures became practically exinct. There was only one saint, Dharasena who had some knowledge of those ancient texts. This saint was originally a resident of Girinagara (Girnar). While he was engaged in penances in the Candragumphā Cave of Girnar hill, he decided to send a letter to the monks of Dakṣiṇāpatha warning them against the danger of the complete extinction of the knowledge of early scriptures. The monks, on receipt of that letter sent two intelligent monks called Puspadanta and Bhūtabali to Dharasena who taught them ancient scriptures. These two monks later composed the Șatkhandāgama and, according to Vīrasena, that work was completed 683 years after the nirvana of Mahāvīra. We further learn that Puşpadanta composed the first 20 cardinal sūtras and the rest of the work running to 6000 sūtras was completed by Bhūtabali.
