History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

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

Page 164

THE EXTANT ĀGAMAS OF THE JAINAS
147 Mahāvīra, and various questions (regarding the re-births) asked by the former to the latter. Sutta 74 deals with various Tāvasas, and the following ones up to s. 100 with Parivāyagas, Ammada being one of them. His subsequent life as Dadhapainna is then dealt with. In the end we have exposition about the samugghāya resorted to, by some of the omniscient beings, description of the abode of the liberated and the condition therein. Suttas 168-189 which form the ending portion, are in verse whereas the preceding portion is mostly in prose.
RĀYAPPASENAÏJJA This Uvanga deals with the birth of King Paësi as Sūriabha deva, his celestial grandeour and enjoyments, his staging of a drama and a dance in the presence of Lord Mahāvīra, the description of his vimāna, and a dialogue regarding the identity of soul and body between Paësi and Kesi Ganadhara, a follower of Lord Pārsva. Prof. Winternitz attaches immense value to this dialogue; for, he considers it as a beautiful piece of literature. As regards the title etc. of this Uvanga it may be noted that in the 5th Anga (s. 133) and elsewhere, too, it is mentioned as Rāyappasenaijja. Abhayadeva Sūri in his com. (519a) on Viyahapannatti names this Agama as "Rājapraśnakrta'.
JĪVĀJĪVĀBHIGAMA: This Uvanga is divided into 9 sections known as pratipattis. It deals with the fundamental principles of Jainism, and thus furnishes us with details about the animate and inanimate objects. The 3rd pratipatti contains the description of continents and oceans, and it is looked upon by Prof. Winternitz as an interpolation (vide A History of Indian Literature, Vol. II, p. 456). The entire treatment in this Uvanga is in the form of questions and answers as is the case with the 4th Uvanga. 1 See A History of Indian Literature (vol. II, p. 455). 2 See Avassayacunni (pt. I, p. 142). 3 This is styled as ajjhayana in its sutta I. 4 In A History of Indian Literature (vol. II, p. 456) the number of sections has
been given as 20. This gives rise to a set of questions: Is this a slip or is it
owing to some other method of counting ? And, if latter, what is that method ? 5 This name occurs in Malayagiri Sūri's com. on this 3rd Uvanga. Furthermore,
therefrom we learn the specific names of one and all the pratipattis. They are
Dvividhā, Trividhā etc. up to Daśavidhā. 6 This is the biggest section out of 10.