Gandharavada

Author(s): Esther A Solomon
Publisher: Gujarat Vidyasabha

Page 10

INTRODUCTION WHAT IS THIS GANADHARAVĀDA ?
Before we talk of the Gañadharavada proper, let us take a bird's eye view of the Jaina Canon, so that the Gañadharavāda may be properly located in the sacred literature of the Jainas, and its relation to the Jaina Canon shown. Flitherto, we have a detailed knowledge only of the Canon (Siddhanta or Agama) of the Svetambaras, as the Digambaras constituting the other important Jaina schism, refuse to accept this as the genuine Canon, though they also agree in regarding the 12 Angas (limbs' of the body of religion) as the first and most important part of the Canon which, they believe, is lost for ever. The Jaina Canon as it is recognised by the Svetāmbaras is classified as follows :
I. The 12 Angas: (i) Āyāra (Acāra), (ii) Süyagada (Sūtrakṛta), (iii) Thāna (Sthāna), (iv) Samavāya, (v) Bhagavati or Viyahapannatti (Vyakhya-prajñapti), (vi) Nāyādhammakahão (Jnātadharmakathāḥ), (vii) Uvāsagadasão (Upāsakadaśaḥ), (viii) Amtagadadazão (Antakțddaśāḥ), (ix) Aņuttarovavāiyadasão (Anuttaraupipātikada śāḥ), (x) Panhiavāgaraņāim ( Praśna-vyākaraṇāni), (xi) Vivāgasuyam (Vi çaka-śrutam), (xii) Ditthivaya (Drstivāda).
The twelfth - Ditthivāya — has been lost for ever. It is said to have originally consisted of 14 Puyvas (Purvas), the knowledge of which went on gradually decreasing till it ultimately disappeared. There is also a difference of opinion regarding the order of these Angas* and such other points; but we are not concerned with these here.
For a detailed discussion of the Jaina Canon, and especially for a discussion regarding the twelfth Anga which is lost for ever, see Weber's Sacred Literature of the Jainas (Translated by Dr. Herbert Weir Smyth - Indian Antiquary — Volumes xvii-xxi), S. B. E. Vol. xxii, xLv, Jaina Sutras (Jacobi's Introduction), and A History of the Canonical Literature of the Jainas - H. R. Kapadia. See also- A History of Indian Literature, Vol. II-Jaipa Literature - Maurice Winternity. G-1