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CHAPTER XL.
JAIN LITERATURE. Jain Literature forms One of the Oldest Literary Records in the World The Purvas- The AngasThe Purvas have been lose -We find mention of their Names only -Sillatas and their Origin -- The Jain Scholiasts, Commataera and Authors.
The Ju Liter ure is one of the oldest literature of ladia. According to the Jains the last Prophet Muhavira Swami taught the "Purvas" to his disciples who afterwards composed, the Angas, The "Purvas” literally means "Earlier" and they were so called because they existed prior to the composition of 'Angas.' They were also known as Dristibad. The date of the original composition of these Angas which are in popular dialects, has been placed to vards the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century B. C, by the Western Scholars. But it is not proved that these Angas did not exist previous to this date. We only find mention made of the fact that the earliest collection of these sacred texts or the Agams took place at Pataliputra and belonged to
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