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Epistemology of Jainas
14. Lokabindusāra-The subject is not mentioned. Probably
it dealt with the Jaina cosmology.
These pūrvas were present in the tradition of Mahāvira also. We have given in the introduction how they came to extinction.
The Tradition of Mahavira
The present canonical literature belongs to the tradition of Mahāvira. He had eleven Gañadharas (chief disciples). It is said that each of them composed one dvādaśāngl! (a set of twelve āgamas compared with the different part or limbs of the body of śruta purusa, i. e. personified śruta-jñāna). But, we come across only one dvādaśāngr. Perhaps, each gañadhara propagated the same knowledge and was taken as the independent compiler of it.
Mahāvira himself did not compose any book. It is said that Gautama, the first ganadhara, put him a question thrice and Mahāvíra expressed the essence of ultimate truth in three words. They are known as three Mātņkapadas. We have already referred to them in the first chapter. Gautama elaborated these words and composed the entire set of dvādaśāngi. The questions of Gautama are known as three Nisejjas (Samskrta Nişadyās). They are defined as asking questions with due reverence. It bears a striking resemblance with Upanisads in the Vedic literature.
We have no means to know the number of nişadyās pertaining to the remaining ten Gañadharas; but, it is certain that at least one of them has recourse to fifteen nişadyas. But, we do not know anything about the answers given by Mahāvīra.
In the tradition of Mahāvīra the Jaina literature was arranged in the following twelve Agamas : 1. Haribhadra on Āvaśyaka Niryukti G. 735 2. Ibid. also Āvaśyakacūrņi p. 337 3. Nandi Sūtra 55
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