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History and Sources According to the radition of both Svetāmbaras) as well as Digambaras,2 Bhadrabāhu was the last Śrutakevalin. According to Svetāmbaras he died 170 years after the death of Mahāvīra. The Digambara tradition maintains his death eight years earlier.
Thus, we conclude that 170 years after the death of Mahā. vīra the knowledge of the last four Pūrvas was nearly lost. Sthūlabhadra possessed it partially and that also to keep it to himself only.
According to Svetāmbarass the tradition of ten Pūrvas ended with Vajrasvāmin who expired 584 years after the death of Mahāvīra. According to the Digambarat tradition the last ten-pūrvin was Dharasena. He passed away 345 years after the death of Mahāvīra. The difference between the two traditions regarding Śrutakevalin was insigoificant. But, in this case they differ not only in pame but in time also, and hold a considerable difference of 239 years.
Vajra was followed by Aryarakṣita. The latter was Yugapradhāna (Chief of the era) for 13 years and arranged canonical literature into four anuyogas. They were :
1. Caranakaranānuyoga — Ethical literature. 2. Dharmakathānuyoga - Didactical stories. 3. Gaạitānuyoga - Literature on Geography
and Mathematics. 4. Dravyānuyoga - Literature on metaphysics
Āryaraksitae himself knew nine Pūrvas and only a part of the tenth Pūrva. Amongst his desciples only Durbalikā Puspamitra? was able to learn the nine Pūrvas. He also forgot 1. Vira Nirvana p. 62. 2. Dhavalā Int. p. 26. 3. Merutunga Vicāra. Vira Nirvāna, p. 64 4. Dhavalā Vol. I, Int. p. 26 5. Āva Nir. G. 763-777, V. Bh. G. 2284-2295 6. V. Bh. G. 2511 tikā 7. Ibid.
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