History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

Author(s): Hiralal R Kapadia, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 135

CHAPTER V THE EXTANT ĀGAMAS OF THE JAINAS
In the last chapter we dealt with the extinct Agamas. So we shall here treat the extant ones which together with the former, make up the Jaina canon. It is true that the Agamas which we have to-day are not the exact prototypes of those composed several centuries ago; for, they have undergone some changes the linguistic ones and those introduced at the time of the Redaction of the canon being chief of them. The Āgamas available at present however confirm to their critical editions prepared under the able supervision of Devarddhi Gani Kşamāśramaņa. It appears that for several Agamas we have palm-leaf Mss. at least as old as the second quarter of the 12th century of the Vikrama era. It is neither possible nor necessary to consult them while dealing with the extant Āgamas; for, their printed editions seem to be fairly reliable.
ĀYĀRA Āyāra the first Anga is divided into two suyakkhandhas, the 1st having at present 8 ajjhayanas2 (formerly 9) and the 2nd 16.3 Most of these ajjhayanas are sub-divided into tuddesass, each of which consists of suttas. 1 Literally this means a trunk of the tree of) the scripture. It may be roughly
translated as 'section'. H. Jacobi has translated it as 'book'. See S. B. E. (vol.
XXII, p. 1). 2 This word has been translated as lecture' by H. Jacobi.—Ibid., p. 1 3 Cf. "To HTC 467 317, a HCGT, quaH 375puuti, Tereits seHUGIAT" - Nandi
(s. 46) 4 Here this word is used to denote a 'subsection' but in Kavidappana this is used
for section. In Nitivākyāmrta of Somadeva Sūri it is divided into 32 sections,
each known as 'Samuddeśa'. 5 H. Jacobi has translated this as 'lesson'. See S. B. E. (vol. XXII, p. 1). Ajjhayanas
1 to 6, 8 and 9 of the 1st section have 7, 6, 4, 4, 6, 5, 8, and 4 uddesas respectively whereas ajjhayaņas 1 to 7 of the 2nd have 11, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, and 2. Thus ajjhayaņas 8 to 16 of the 2nd have no uddesas.