Jaina Epistemology

Author(s): Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 32

History and Sources
case of Vedas. In essence they were propounded by the Tirthankaras and compiled into book form by Gaṇadharas, the chief Desciples. In addition to the composition of Ganadharas, some other works also were accepted as Agamas and held in that esteem. The sages who possessed the knowledge of all the fourteen Purvas, were known as Sruta kevalins and were ranked next to the kevalins as far as their religious knowledge was concerned. The works composed by them also, were included into the cavonical literature. Next we come to dasapurvins; the sages possessing the knowledge of entire ten Pürvas. Their works also were credited as Agamas. The main reason for this view is that a sage having the knowledge of complete ten Pürvas must be a samyagdṛsti. A mithyādṛṣṭi, cannot study the tenth Purva completely. He can go up to the ninth Purva completely and to the tenth Purva in a part. He is liable to speak untruth also. On the other hand a person with a minimum knowledge of entire ten Purvas, being decidedly a samyagdṛsti cannot speak untruth. The credit of scriptural validity can be attributed to a samyagdṛsti only. The other person cannot be accepted as an undisputable authority. Vattakera svāmin adds to the above list the works of Pratyeka Buddhas also, who have attained perfect knowledge not as Tirthankaras but as the ordinary sages.
The Present State of the Agamas
We cannot say that the present works, known with the name of Agamas, are the same as they were composed in their original form. The present works cannot claim to be the very words of Tirthankaras or Gaṇadharas. Slippings and interpolations are natural in the course of time. Many of the works are totally lost. The remaining ones have gone through consi
1. Ava. Nir G. 90-92
2. V. BH. G.
3. Nandy. 41
4. Mülācāra p. 80
5. Ibid.
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