History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

Author(s): Hiralal R Kapadia
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

Page 82

IV
THE EXTINCT ĀGAMAS OF THE JAINAS
In each of the two cycles of kalacakra, avasarpiņī and utsarpiņi there flourish 24 Tirtharkaras in this Bharata ksetra 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 Tirthařkaras composed dvādasangis. Furthermore, several direct or indirect disciples of every Tirthankara, who were endowed with 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 wehave no means to exactly point out all those scriptures which are now lost to us
1. I use this word to indicate the follwing items :
(i) Lord Mahāvīra while renouncing the world uttered a Sāmālyasutta. Probably this very one is preserved in the Avassaya. (ii) He performed an iryāpathiki kriyā, 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.
HIST.-9