ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 365

INTERNATION
SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY
स्वाध्यायं तपः •
The Title of the Text
It is in the form of questions and answers and popularly known as Bhagavati Sūtra, because of the clarifications it reveals. Its original name is Vihāyapanṇatti, Vivahapanṇatti or Vyakhyāprajñapti.
1.
Samavāyānga and Nandi state that the text carries 36,000 answers to the queries put forward by Gautama, the first gaṇadhara, i.e. principal disciple of Mahāvīra, and others, and later on revealed by Sudharma Svāmī to Jambū Svāmi2. It came to be called Bhagavati because of its importance among the canonical scriptures. Bhagavati means divine and holy and so the original name was substituted by the adjective used to reveal its sacredness.
2.
Structure
Bhagavati Sūtra is the most voluminous of all available Agamas. It is divided into 138 Śatakas (chapters) that are further subdivided into 1923 Uddeśakas (sub-chapters) containing 15,751 Slokas (verses). We do not come across any commentaries like Niryukti or Bhasya on the Bhagavati Sūtra, but only a small Curni besides a Vitti by Abhayadevasūri, and a few Hindi and Gujarati translations. The language of the Bhagavati Sūtra is Ardhamägadhi. In its question-and-answer-style the latent intellectual curiosity of man is reflected. Sri Amarmuni has divided the contents of the Bhagavati Sūtra in ten sections:
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5.
SCHOOL
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OF
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AN STUDIES
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10.
Acara Khanda
Dravya Khanda
Siddhanta Khanda
Paraloka Khanda
Bhugola Khanda
Khagola Khanda
Ganitaśästra
Garbhaśāstra
Caritra Khanda
Vividha
2 Samavayanga Sutra, 93, Nandisūra 85.
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