Jain Legend Vol 3

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 76

As far as complete loss of scriptures is concerned, we have to consider that not even a single scripture of other Indian religious traditions such as Vedic (who call their Vedas as divine sermons), Upani adas, Vai avas, rutis, Gt, Mah bh rata, Pi akas of Buddhism etc have been lost. They even do not talk of loss of their original scriptures. Lord Buddha, who was a contemporary of Lord Mah v ra, also preached and his sermons are believed to exist in original. Then why do monks and followers of Digambara tradition talks of this loss of original scriptures. How can their own eleven limbs, sub limbs, Cheda s tras can be lost? They cite the effect of bad (inauspicious) times for such loss. How come only Jain scriptures were lost and not the scriptures of any other religion? Under such circumstances, it becomes difficult to digest their claim of loss of original scriptures.
In a similar manner, the tradition of v sak epa of c ryas, Up dhyayas, monks (male and female) and elders is a very popular in one sect of Jainism. In va yakac r i, mention had been made that even Lord Mah v ra practised this tradition on ga adharas like Gautama etc. But such practices are not traceable in scriptures.
Today each and every sect, sub-sect and ga a of Jainism consider their rituals and traditions as original and propagated by Lord Mah v ra. In such a situation, validity of the true code of conduct and doctrine can only be made based on the description in scriptures like cr mga etc, whichever tradition comes out as per the descriptions in cr mga etc should be considered as the true and original code of conduct, ritual and tradition only.
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